419 scam: "KOELNER BANK"<info_koelnerbank@sify.com> Dear Good Friend,

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- normandjohn@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "KOELNER BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <normandjohn@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:06:02 -0000
Subject: Dear Good Friend,

Dear Good Friend,

Your e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted by our law firm, Reality Law Chambers in Lagos Nigeria

My name is Normand John (esq). A personal attorney to our late client Mr.Fedrick Carson who worked for an oil firm in Nigeria. Mr.Fedrick Carson a well known Philanthropist,before he died, he made a Will in our law firm stating that $25M (Twenty Five million U.S. dollars only) should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice overseas.

We have made a random draw and your name and e-mail address was picked as the beneficiary to this Will. I am particularly interested in securing this money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing us to produce the beneficiary of this Will within two weeks which happens to be you or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury as regards to law here.

It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client. You are required to contact me immediately to start the process of transfering this money to any of your designated official account. I urge you to contact me immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a date limit. i will be glad to have your direct telephone number so that i can reach you for futher details.

Please contact me urgently via email: normandjohn@sify.com

Congratulation,

Barrister Normand John [Esq

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam