419 scam: OFFICIAL FILE <officialfile@voila.fr> 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:

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)
- "a security company " (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)
- "million 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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: OFFICIAL FILE <officialfile@voila.fr>
Reply-To: princessroukia@voila.fr
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:39:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP.

Dear Friend,

I am writing this letter in confidence believing that you will help me and my kid brother, God almighty will bless and reward you abundantly and you would never regret this. Brief introductions of me, my names are Princess Roukia Kadin Sawadaogo, 24 years old, student, and studying business administration at Ouagadougou University. I'd like any person who can be caring, loving and home oriented. I will love to have a long-term relationship with you and to know more about you I would like to build up a solid foundation with you in time coming if you can be able to help me retrieve my trunk box.

Well, my lovingly parents died some years ago and left I and my younger brother behind. My late father was a king, which our town citizens titled him over sixteen years before his death. I am only daughter and eldest child and I am the only person who can take care of his wealth now because my younger brother is still young. I know my entire father's wealth. He deposited the sum of USD15, 000.000 Dollars (Fifteen Million US Dollars) in a Security Company here in Burkina Faso in West African Country. Due to my late father position during the lodging of the money he told the security company management the content of the box was gold that belongs to his foreign partner and it was agreed and signed that on his absence the consignment will only be release to his partner by authorization of his only daughter which I am. This money was annually paid into my late fathers account from Shell petroleum development company (SPDC) and chevron Oil Company operating
in our locality for the compensation of youth and community development in our jurisdiction.

I am ready to pay 20% of the total amount to you if you help me claim the consignment and another 10% interest per Annual after Income to you, for handling this transaction for us, which you will strongly have absolute control over. If you can handle this project sincerely and also willing to assist me in lifting this fund kindly reply immediately you receive this message.

Yours Sincerely,

Princess Roukia Sawadaogo.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam