419 scam: Raphiou Codjo <racodjo229@att.net> Good Day!!

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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- ",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)
- "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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- raphiou_c229@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Raphiou Codjo <racodjo229@att.net>
Reply-To: raphiou_c229@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:14:59 +0800
Subject: Good Day!!

With due respect?

Good Day!!

I am sorry for invading into your privacy, because it is obvious that this
proposal will come to you as a surprise. This is because we have not meet
before but i am inspired to send you this email by the huge fund transfer
opportunity that will be of mutual benefit to both of us.

First it is my humble pleasure to introduce myself to you. However, I would
need your attention for a moment. I am Raphiou Codjo,Credit officer TRUST
FINANCIAL COMPANY here in cotonou.I believe that you will not betrayed me at
last with the trust i intend putting on you now.

THE PROPOSITION

A foreigner, a Libyian,Late Engr.MAHMUD ALI IBRAHIM (snr)An iron steel company
chairman with the Federal Government here in Benin until his death some years
ago in a Auto Crash and he Deposited with us some amount of money worth
US$14,000,000(Fourteen million United States Dollars), the company now expects
a next of kin as beneficiary of this money and Valuable efforts are being made
by TRUST FINANCIAL COMPANY to get in touch with any of the MAHMUD ALI'S family
or relatives but to no avail.

It is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate any of
Late Engr MAHMUD ALI IBRAHIM (snr)'s next of kin (he had no wife or children
that is known to us).The management under the influence of our chairman and
members of the board of directors, have made arrangements for the fund to be
declared "Unclaimed» and subsequently be used to import ammunition's into our
country.

However, In order to avert this negative development, some of my trusted
colleagues and I, now seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to
late Engr MAHMUD ALI IBRAHIM (snr) so that the fund US$14,000,000 will be
released and transferred into your account as the beneficiary.

All documents and proofs to enable you get this fund has been carefully worked
out. We have secured from the probate an order of mandamus to locate
any of the
deceased beneficiaries, and more so, we are assuring you that this business is
100% risk free evolvement. Your share remains while the rest will be
for me and
my colleagues for investment purposes anywhere according to agreement between
us and your good self.

Please i would like you to keep this proposal as a top secret and delete it if
you are not interested. Upon receipt of your reply,to this our mutual business
proposal from you, we would furnish you with the necessary disbursement ratio
to suite both parties. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not hesitate
to contact me through my private e-mail: raphiou_c229@yahoo.com.hk
I await your urgent communication.
Best regards,
Raphiou.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam