419 scam: Dr Paul Abubakar <gov.workersburkinafaso@live.com> (no subject)

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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)
- "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Paul Abubakar <gov.workersburkinafaso@live.com>
Reply-To: pabu1981@voila.fr
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:45:15 +0000 (GMT)
Subject:

Dear friend,
I apologize if the contents hereunder are contrary to your moral ethics, but
please treat it with absolute secrecy and personal courtesy. I am Dr Paul Abubakar,
an Auditor with a bank here in Burkina faso, West Africa. In the process of auditing
for the first quarter of the year, i discovered a dormant account with value
$11.5 million USD.
After due verifications of this account i discovered that the account owner is dead.
The deceased died along with his supposed next of kin in an air crash since 31 July 2000.
In view of this, i am seeking for your co-operation and understanding to stand
as the next of kin to the deceased customer, to enable us claim the fund from my
bank. I agreed that 40% of this fund will be for you if you can only assist me in this
transaction while 60% will be for me and i want to assure you that this transaction is
absolutely legal and risk free. Before we proceed, i would like to know
your ability to handle this transaction over there in your country. Please tell me more
about the political stability of your country.

Kindly update me with the following information because i would like to know you very
well before we proceed on this transaction. Hope you understand?
1. YOUR FULL NAME?.........
2. YOUR AGE?.......AND SEX?........
3. YOUR OCCUPATION?..........
4. YOUR HOME AND OFFICE ADDRESS?...............
5. YOUR COMPANY?.............
6. YOUR COUNTRY?.............
7. NATIONALITY?.........
8. YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMBER?................
Contact me to my private E-mail: pabu1981@voila.fr I await for your prompt response.

Best regards,
Dr Paul Abubakar

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam