419 scam: OFFICIAL FILE <fileofficially@hotmail.com> 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)
- "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)
- "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: OFFICIAL FILE <fileofficially@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: OFFICIAL FILE <sharifadamiba24@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 23:37:46 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP.

HelloDear Friend,Â

How are you? My name is Princess Sharifa, onlydaughter of late His Royal Highness Bertrand Damiba 11, Chief of Fada Nâ€™GourmaCommunity Burkina Faso. Iâ€™m 24 years old, studying business management inOuagadougou University. Well, my lovinglyparents died some years ago and left I and my younger brother behind. My latefather was a king, which our town citizens titled him over sixteen years beforehis death. I am his only daughter and eldest child and I am the only person whocan take care of his wealth now because my younger brother is still young.

He deposited the sum of USD15, 000.000 (FifteenMillion US Dollars) in a Security Company here in Burkina Faso in West AfricanCountry. Due to my late father position during the lodging of the money he toldthe security company management the content of the box was gold that belongs tohis foreign partner and it was agreed and signed that on his absence theconsignment will only be release to his partner by authorization of his onlydaughter which I am.Â

This money was annually paid into my late fatherâ€™saccount from Shell petroleum development company (SPDC) and chevron Oil Companyoperating in our locality for the compensation of youth and communitydevelopment in our jurisdiction.

I don't know how and what I will do to invest thismoney somewhere in abroad, so that my father's kindred will not take over whatbelongs to my father and our family, which they were planning to do without mypresent because I am a female as stated by our culture in the town. I thereforeseek your urgent attention and apply to the security company as my late fatherbusiness partner and retrieve the box containing the total sum of USD15,000.000. I urgently need your humble assistance to move this money from thesecurity company to your country. Â I am ready to pay20% of the total amount to you if you help me claim the consignment and another10% interest per Annual after Income to you, for handling this transaction forus, which you will strongly have absolute control over. If you can handle thisproject sincerely and also willing to assist me in lifting this fund, kindlyreach me. Â YoursSincerely,

Princess Sharifa Damiba.Â

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam