419 scam: "Mr. Sam Kofi Atta Mills" <mr.samkofi@yahoo.com.au> Greetings To You From Mr. Sam Kofi Atta Mills

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
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.
- mr.samkofi@yahoo.com.au (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Sam Kofi Atta Mills" <mr.samkofi@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 07:36:47 +0000
Subject: Greetings To You From Mr. Sam Kofi Atta Mills

Greetings to you,

I want to invest in your country. I am Mr. Sam Kofi Atta Mills, from Ghana,
the only son of Professor John Evans Fifii Atta Mills, former President
Republic of Ghana. He passed away to the lord on Tuesday 24th July 2012 at
the 37 Military hospital in Accra on Tuesday afternoon.

Before his unfortunate death my father made it clearly to me that he lodged
the sum of US$15, 500, 000.00 dollars with United Bank for Africa here in
Accra-Ghana and also deposited in a Security Firm, a trunk box containing
150 kg of Gold which is our family treasures for safe keeping.

He instructed that I should claim it to look after myself. I intend to
invest this money abroad, hence my contacting you to advise me how best I
can invest this money in your country. For your assistance I will offer 20%
of the money to you. I have all the vital documents covering the deposit,
of which I can send on request.Please send your response through my private
email address:mr.samkofi@yahoo.com.au

Thank you very much for th e anticipated acceptance while I expect your
prompt response.

Best Regards,
Mr. Sam Kofi Atta Mills.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam