419 scam: Kofi Collins <officeoffice22@johnnnymails.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:

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:
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- koffic03@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Kofi Collins <officeoffice22@johnnnymails.com>
Reply-To: koffic03@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:37:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear good friend.

Dear good friend.

My name is Mr. Kofi Collins, a Senior Staff and Regional Branch Manager here in our
Bank at I.C.B Ghana. I got your information during my searcher on your Country
Chambers of Comers. I am 47 Years of Age and Married with five Lovely Kids. It may
Interest you to hear that I am a Man of PEACE.

I only hope we can assist each other. I have packaged a financial Transaction that
Will benefit both of us, as the Regional Bank Manager, it is my duty to send in a
Financial report to my head Office in the capital City Accra at the end of each year.

On the course of the last year 2009 end of year report, I discovered that my branch
in which I am the manager made Two Million Eight Hundred United State Dollars
[$2.8million] Which my Head Office, are not aware.

Then I decided to place this fund on what we call SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without any
Beneficiary. As an Officer of the Bank I can not be directly connected to this money,
so this informed my contacting you for us to work so that you can assist me to
receive this money into your bank account. I am willing to give you 40% of the total
fund. Note there are practically no risk involved, it will be bank to bank transfer,
all I need from you is your honest and assist me to claim as the original depositor
of this fund so that my Head office can order the transfer to your designated bank
account, I am going to programmed your name in the database of the Bank as the real
depositor of the funds past 3 years ago and you want to close the account to be
transfer back to you in your country very easy.

If you accept this offer to work with me, I will appreciate it very much. As soon as
I receive your response I will details you on how we can achieve it successfully.

Please for any further communications; get in touch with me through my Alternative

email at koffic03@hotmail.com

Best Regards,
Mr.Kofi Colins.
Cell 00233201280363

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam