419 scam: "Dr. Edward Kofi" <00943652@att.net> VERY URGENT

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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:

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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- edward_kofiprivate1@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Edward Kofi" <00943652@att.net>
Reply-To: dr.edwardkofi@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:48:45 -0800 (PST)
Subject: VERY URGENT

Address: Meridian House Ring Road
Central Accra, Ghana Paid-up Capital
Private Email: edward_kofiprivate1@yahoo.com
Date: 05-11-09

Dear Friend,

Re: My Request.

My heart warm greetings to you. I am Dr. Edward Kofi. I have a very important request that make me to contact you; I decided to confide in you directly and solicit for your assistance and Guidelines in making a business investment and wire transfer the sum of ($20,000,000.00 Twenty Million United State Dollars) only into your country within the Next few days. All conformable legal documents to back this payment in your name genuinely will be made available prior to your acceptance to this proposal.

I presently work as a Fund manager, and am in charge with all Offshore Mortgage & Services of our overseas brokers/investors with International Commercial Bank Accra Ghana. But at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this profitable Business investment until I get your positive response by reply email.

Best Regards,
Dr. Edward Kofi
Fund Manager.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam