419 scam: "Mr. Amos Goni" <behappy1960@yahoo.com.ph> Dear Friend,

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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)
- "mobilization 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. )
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Amos Goni" <behappy1960@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: amosgoni@hotmail.fr
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:06:01 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Amos J. Goni, residence address at BP 212, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. I am the personal lawyer to late Mr.William, a client of mine, whom has a servicing firm affiliated with the Julius Berger road construction in Cote D'Ivoire.

Late Mr. Williams was awarded a contract worth (US$25,000,000.00) when he was alive and Immediately this contract was signed, an initial amount of (US$10.000, 000.00) was paid to him as mobilization fee to kick off the contract. He duly completed this contract pending when his remaining balance of (US$15,000,000.00) will be paid to him. On 2nd of March 2009, my client, his wife and their two children were involved in a car accident at Cocody, capital city of Ivory Coast. Unfortunately, all the occupants lost their lives.

Not too long after his untimely death, his outstanding balance of US$15,000,000.00 was approved and deposited in a Bank here. Right now the funds are still floating unclaimed in the suspense account of the offshore correspondence payment centre here.

I have reasoned very professionally and I feel it will be legally proper to present you as one of the relative of my deceased client, so that you can be paid the remaining balance of his contract funds left in the Bank, hence I contacted you. I am offering you this opportunity by contacting you to assist in repatriating the fund left behind by my late client before they get confiscated or unserviceable by the Bank where this huge deposit were lodged. The Julius Berger road construction issued me a notice as the Attorney to the deceased to provide the Next of Kin or have the Account confiscated in a shot period of time and since then I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over a year that I have been searching.

I seek your concept to present you as the Next of Kin or family member to the deceased since you are at an advantage, so that the proceeds of this remaining balance of his contract funds valued at (US$15,000,000.00) can be paid to you. We shall both share the funds; 60% for me and 40% for you as we proceed.

I have all the necessary Legal Documents that will be used to back up our claim. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this project through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law after the transfer is done.

Thanks and have a wonderful day with your family.
Please contacts me for further details.

Best personal regards,
Mr.Amos J Goni (Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

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