419 scam: "IKOBO PROMO TEAM" <info@ikobo.com> RE: IKOBO PROMO

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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:
- "processing fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million us dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348036638868 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- ikobo_department1@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "IKOBO PROMO TEAM" <info@ikobo.com>
Reply-To: ikobo_department1@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 07:58:54 +0800 (PHT)
Subject: RE: IKOBO PROMO

IKOBO PROMO TEAM
1,ikobo Way P/H
rivers State,
Nigeria.

Our Ref: IKG/NG/ICO: Your Ref:

DATE 09/03/2011

Haven waited to hear from you without success even as our earlier email to
you was unreplied we wish to inform you that your $2,000,000.00 (two million
US dollars) grant has been approved and subsequently arranged on a special
IKOBO MASTER CARD and sent to PROCESSING / DELIVERY DEPARTMENT for
delivery to you, the IKOBO PROMO TEAM is on MID TERM break and will not
resume for work till on the 5th of April 2011, and April 2011 will
lead to your disqualification and the funds will be returned to the
organizers of this PROMO for future edition of the Award.

YOUR PIN NUMBER IS : 3852 and the maximum withdrawal per day is $5,000.

NOTE: insurance and delivery charges has all been paid by the IKOBO AWARD
TEAM, the only money you have to pay to them is the processing fee of $150
ONLY, so don't allow anybody to deceive you on that, we would have paid
for that but the fact that we don't have your full information means that
you have to provide the information to the dispatch center and ask them
how to send the processing fee of $150 to them, be aware that as soon as
the processing fee and your information has been sent to them, your visa
card will be deliver to you through DHL COURIER which we have already
paid for.

If you are interested and wish to claim your funds contact the Director
of MASTER CARD Processing/dispatch center:

Mr. Chris David
EMAIL: ikobo_department1@yahoo.com.hk
Phone: +2348036638868

with the following details:

FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE/Mobile NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
AGE:
YOUR OCCUPATION
YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER IS: IK03NG2009 (very important)

Please be informed that Mr. Chris David is the only accredited person
to make sure that your MASTER CARD gets to you therefore you don't have to
deal with any other person(s) or office (s) to avoid disqualification.

NOTE: YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THIS AWARD.

Best Regards
Mrs. Rita Petrov
Board Secretary, IKOBO PROMO

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam