419 scam: Melisa Koffi <melisa_koffi@yahoo.com.ph> I AWAIT UR URGENT RESPONSE

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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.

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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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Melisa Koffi <melisa_koffi@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: melisakoffi@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 13:06:48 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: I AWAIT UR URGENT RESPONSE

Dear Friend, How are you today hope you are having a fulfilling day.I am Miss Melisa Koffi born into the family of late Mr/Mrs Charles Koffi former minister of finance and economics here in cote d ivoire. I wish to invest my inheritance fund in your country. I inherited this fund from my late father who died in the recent political crisis in my country.Before his death, he informed me on his sick bed that he has the total sum of ($12,500,000)Twelve Million Five hundred thousand united states dollars in a bank in my country and he deposited the fund in my name as the next of kin. Further directives and details about the deposit and how to move the fund successfully to your country will be given to you as soon as I get your response . Waiting For Your Urgent Mail, Yours Faithfully,
Melisa Koffi

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam