419 scam: "Mrs. Docas Kone" <docas_kone@rediffmail.com> URGENT ASSISTANCE

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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:
- "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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Docas Kone" <docas_kone@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: docaskone01@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 07:23:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE

Dearest Friend,

Good day and compliments of the seasons, I know this letter will definitely come to you as a huge surprise, but I implore you to take the time to go through it carefully as the decision you'll make will go a long way to determine my future and continued existence. I am Mrs. Docas kone an aging widow of 61 years old suffering from long time illness.

I was recently notified my late husband had an unclaimed deposit account worth the sum of US$6,400,000.00 which has been unclaimed for a long period of time and is presently facing danger of being declared a dormant account and returned to the government treasury. My present state of health does not permit me to take any action here and I do not wish to have the sweat of my late husband end up in the hands of undeserving government officials. I need a very honest and God fearing Christian who I can make the executor of my WILL and have this unclaimed funds in the bank released to you so you can use the funds for charity works.

MY GREATEST WISH IS TO GIVE THIS FUNDS TO YOU FOR CHARITY WORKS. I found your email address from the internet after honest prayers to the LORD to bring me a helper and I decided to contact you if you may be willing and interested to handle these trust funds in good faith before anything happens to me.

I am desperately in keen need of assistance and I have summoned up courage to contact you for this task, you must not fail me and the millions of the poor people in our todays WORLD. This is no stolen money and there are no dangers involved 100% RISK FREE with full legal proof. Please if you would be able to use the funds for the Charity works please kindly let me know immediately.

Please kindly respond quickly for further details, reply quick or you will give me room to contact someone else to handle this task on my behalf.

Warmest Regards,

Mrs. Docas kone.

URGENT ASSISTANCE

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam