419 scam: Wilfred Koffi <officeoffice193@yahoo.com.ph> I NEED YOUR HELP

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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)
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "million 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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- wilfredkoffi@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Wilfred Koffi <officeoffice193@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: wilfredkoffi@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 01:32:56 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP

Dear Friend,

Many thanks your time; Perhaps you are a source of great help to further assist me resolve together an urgent matter. Dr. Wilfred Koffi is my name I am former Executive chairman Ashanti Gold field Limited Ashanti region Ghana.

My purpose of writing is to seek your assistance to help recover my consignment I shipped to your country through a diplomatic courier company. I shipped it in the name of my long time business partner. The consignment arrived there since November last year. Up till now the consignment is still with the courier company as unclaimed cargo.

The delivery company could not locate the receiver through his address I gave the company.

Please it is quite certain that weâ€™ve never known or met each other before but due to this urgent situation that is very concern to me, I decided to make immediate alternative arrangements. I do not know much people from your side, but as I was searching for a partner through the net, I was glad when I noticed your first name that matched the same name I shipped the consignment to hence my purpose of writing you.

I had previously requested the courier company to return the consignment back here but they insists the consignment cannot be released until their incurred handling and demurrage charges be settled before they will release it.

Please consider my kind request for you to assist me retrieve the consignment from the diplomatic courier company as the original beneficiary since your name matches exactly the same name I shipped the consignment. I will certainly appreciate your willingness to assist claim the trunk boxes from the courier company.

The content inside the consignment is US$21,000,000 cash (Twenty One million dollars) and 125 kilos of gold dust alluvial metal. I saved this money and the precious metal while working with Ashanti Gold Field Ashanti region Ghana as the CEO. I saved the money for my future political purposes. I am going to send you at your request the original shipment documents as a proof. The consignment is purely legit and legally shipped not of no illegal transaction. I will send you the courier company contact phone number for your further inquiries from them.

I guarantee to release 25 percent of the total proceed to you for your effort and this will be stated clearly in our MOU agreement. I hope the 25% will be ok for you. I promise you will never lose a dime because I have enough money inside the consignment to cover any expenses you made in the process.

I will need your current address, contact phone numbers and any ID to effect the changes.

Do get back to me through my private email; wilfredkoffi@gmail.com

I look forward to your quick response.

Yours Truly,

Dr. Wilfred Koffi .

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam