419 scam: Kofi Kwamme <kofikwamme36@gmail.com> Please I Need Your Secure and Personal 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:

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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
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.
- kofikwamme36@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- my personal email address, regards, mr kofi kwamme kofikwamme36@yahoo.com kofikwamme36@gmail.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Kofi Kwamme <kofikwamme36@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kofikwamme36@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:31:19 +0000
Subject: Please I Need Your Secure and Personal Assistance

Dear Friend,

Please get back to me honestly for necessary steps regarding this
notification, I have been in search of someone with this last name
HARVEY, so when I saw your name I was pushed to contact you and see
how best we can assist each other. I am Mr Kofi Kwamme, A Banker here
in Ghana West Africa.

A Citizen of your country had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2007 for
36 calendar months; valued at ($10,500,000.00 USD) Ten Million Five
Hundred Thousand US Dollars only the due date for this deposit
contract was this 16 of October 2011. My client who shared the same
last name with yours died he was among the death victims in the May 12
2008 Earthquake disaster in China that killed over 68,000 people. He
was in China on a business trip and that was how he met his end.
My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it
because he was my friend and I am his account officer. Mr. Harvey did
not mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when the account was opened, and he
was not married and no children. Last week my Bank Management
requested that Mr. Harvey should give instructions on what to do about
his funds, if to renew the contract.
I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a
means to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to
know that he is dead and do not have any inheritor, they will take the
funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to happen. That was
why when I saw your name I was happy and I am now seeking your
co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/ inheritor to the account
of Mr. Harvey, since you have the same name with him and my bank head
quarters will release the account to you. There is no risk involved,
the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of law.

It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors
to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am
suggesting we share the funds, 60/40% to both parties, my share will
assist me to start my own company which has been my dream. Let me know
your mind on this and please do treat this information as TOP SECRET.
We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent response
strictly through my personal email address,

Regards,
Mr Kofi Kwamme
kofikwamme36@yahoo.com
kofikwamme36@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam