419 scam: laura doudou <laura_doudou@att.net> Greeting

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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:

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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- lauradoudou49@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: laura doudou <laura_doudou@att.net>
Reply-To: lauradoudou49@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 01:05:27 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Greeting

HELLO,

I am Miss Laura ,a staff in Accounts/Operations Department of one of the local banks here in ABIDJAN, COTE D'IVOIRE(IVORY COAST). I have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. I got your contact from google i decided to contact you immediately.

On June 6 2000, An Oil Consultant/Contractor with the ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE National Petrolum Corporation,

MR.JOHN OWER, made a numbered time(fixed) deposits valued at US$28,750,000(Twenty-Eight Million, Seven Hundred & Fifty Thousand United States Dollars). On investigation, it was discovered that MR.JOHN OWER died along with his family in a plane crash. On further investigation, I discovered that MR.JOHN OWER did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace his Next of Kin proved abortive. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that MR.JOHN OWER did not

declare any Next of Kin in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paper work. This sum of US$28,750,000 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. For the past 4 to 5 years now, no one has ever come forward to claim the fund.

According to the COTE D'IVOIRE (IVORY COAST) Laws, at the expiration of 6 (six) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the COTE D'IVOIRE Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the Next of Kin to MR.JOHN OWER so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.

This is simple,

1. I will like you to provide me with a viable account details where this fund could be safely transferred into as Next of Kin of the former depositor.

2. Please note that there is no risk attached to this

deal as all the Computer work for this transaction will be done by me, including your name as the legitimate Beneficiary of this fund.You will be entitled to 30% of the total amount as your commission after the transaction.

If you are interested, please reply immediately. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details on how to go about it.Please note that this is very confidential. And as I am still a staff with the bank here, I would not like to be known or mentioned as having knowledge of the deal but I will be giving you inside information on what to do. For more information you can reply me in my privte email (lauradoudou49@yahoo.com)Awaiting your urgent reply.

God bless you.

Very Truly Yours,

Miss Laura

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What can you do when you receive 419 spam