419 scam: "Mr.Idris Tanko" <tankos.id@gmail.com> CONFIDENTIAL AND 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:
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Idris Tanko" <tankos.id@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.idristanko@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 06:38:22 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT!

MR.IDRIS TANKO

DIRECTOR
AUDIT AND AC.DEPT

UNITED BANK
OF AFRICA

OUAGADOUGOU

BURKINA FASO.

I am
Mr.Idris Tanko, The Director in charge of Auditing section in the group United
Bank Of Africa Burkina Faso, I need your urgent Assistance in transferring the
sum of ($25.2 million USD) executed Contract Payment fund immediately to your
Account.

Also
note that you will receive 40% of the above mentioned amount, if you agree to
help me implement this business, if you know that you are interested and
capable to handle this business transaction, come up with the information's
stated below:

1.
Your full name:

2.
Your contact cell phone number:

3.
Your age:

4.
Your sex:

5.
Your occupations:

6.
Your country and city:

7.
Your marital status:

As
soon as i get all this information's above,

I
will send you application form which you will fill and send to the bank
international foreign operation department of United Bank of Africa Burkina
Faso West Africa, and i will also fix your information's into the bank computer
system, that will make you the original beneficiary of the fund.

Note:
The entire contract attestation documents are in my custody, I will tender it
on your behalf once you accept to proceed upward.

I
need your punctual respond as the urgency of this transaction implies.

Yours Faithfully

Mr.Idris Tanko.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam