419 scam: "mkfirn95@gmail.com"<kpekpe@live.com> Re :Safe Offer

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "please indicate your willingness" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- ukpe@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mkfirn95@gmail.com" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ukpe@rediffmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:27:50 -0600
Subject: Re :Safe Offer

Dear Friend,

Compliment of the season to you.

I am Mr. David Ukpe, This my letter might come to you as a surprise, however, it
all just my urgent need for a Foreign partner that made me to contact you with
this proposal. I am in need of a credible, private individual, organization or a
reliable company that can help me claim some money from our bank and invest on
my behalf in a lucrative business outside my country Benin. I believe that this
business opportunity would be benefitial for both parties.

Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, but I chose to reach you
through it because it still remains the easiest medium of communication based on
assurance of your Capability and reliability to champion this business
opportunity. However, this correspondence is private, very confidential, and it
should be treated as such.

I am a banker by profession in Benin Republic, West Africa and currently Holding
the post of assistant foreign remittance director in our bank. I have the
Opportunity of transferring the left over funds of ($15.6 million dollars) which
one of My bank clients who died along with his entire family on Monday 31st July
2007 in a Plane crash.

Hence I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared
between us In the ratio of 70% / 30% if you agree to my business proposal.
Further details of the Transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive
your return mail immediately you Receive this letter. Please indicate your
willingness by sending the below information For more clarification and easy
communication so that we can proceed in concluding the transfer of funds into
your designated Bank account.

(1) Your full name................
(2) Your contact address..........
(3) Your Tel and Fax number.......

If you can handle this project consider it and get back to me as soon as
possible through my private email address ( ukpe@rediffmail.com ).
Trusting to hear from you immediately.

Thanks & best regards,

Mr. David Ukpe

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam