419 scam: "Abba Ghali."<admin@creativeonline.co.th> Attn: My Good Friend,

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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- lawrence_francis099@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Abba Ghali." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lawrence_francis099@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2015 13:46:22 -0700
Subject: Attn: My Good Friend,

Attn: My Good Friend,

Due to my tight schedules I could not contact you earlier before now.

This is Abba Ghali who contacted you few years ago over a transfer of
fund to your account as earlier stated in my proposal. I am sending
you this mail to remind you of how I concluded with the said money
transfer, though knowing very well that you showed concern in offering
the necessary help you could.

I am thanking you very much for the least assistance you gave and at
this point, I intend to pay you back good for good. It all began
immediately I came across a very good Samaritan from Seoul, South
Korea just as you are to me. He offered to assist and today I am very
successful with the transaction completed. I am happy to announce this
to your hearing that my family and I are now residents in South Korea
as the transfer is completed and funds disbursed as agreed with my new
partner from Korea. On your part, I am Compensating you with the sum
of $900,000.00 (Nine Hundred Thousand dollars) for showing
concern. Please I want you to accept this as a token from my heart. I
would have sent this mail earlier but due to how urgent my trip was
alongside with my entire family to Asia, so I signed a check worth
$900,000.00 Dollars on your behalf as I am successful with this
transfer.

I therefore advise you to contact my Attorney back home with the
following information of yours.

Your Full Name -------------------------
Your Cell Phone number---------------------------
Country--------------------------------------
Your Residential address where you want your Check to be delivered--------------

I am now in South Korea well comforted with my life and family. It is
my desire to fulfill my dreams in life and to humanity, so get the
Compensation that came from my true heart.

See My Attorney's Email Address below.

Name: Barrister lawrence Francis. Esq.
Email: lawrence_francis099@hotmail.com

Finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to the Attorney on
your behalf to receive that money, so feel free to get in touch with
him, he will send the cheque to you without any delay. For your
information, I have paid for the delivering charges, and the only money
you will send to him to deliver your Draft direct to your address right
there on your doorstep in your country is ($310) Three Hundred & Ten
United States Dollars only for the procurement of your Approval of Payment
Warrant and Endorsement of your fund Release Order from my country by the
Attorney.

Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share
the joy after all the suffering at that time. At the moment, I am very
busy here because of the investment projects which I and the new
partner are having at hand.

Thanking you once more and God bless you and your entire family.

Regards,
Abba Ghali.
Note: you should not fail to inform me once you have received your check.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam