Kofi Appiah – please treat as urgent

So I was sifting through my email box lately to find Mr. Kofi Appiah offer me an offer I just cannot refuse. But do I really want my identity stolen over this couple millions of dollars? Well, that depends on the validity of the cash. You can always buy a new identity later

From:Mr.Kofi Appiah.
Phone:+233273030030

The first question in protecting yourself from identity theft and financial fraud is:

• Do I know this Mr. Kofi guy with this weird phone number and kofiappiahu71@biz.by email address?

It is a long question that should end your further involvement with the scheme that is about to commence.

Dear Friend,

I am Mr Kofi Appiah, a bank manager with Standard Trust Bank here in Ghana West Africa. I believe that you will be capable and trustworthy to handle this transaction after getting your contact information. Also I hope we can assist each other as we progress in this transaction.

So far the con artist wants you to know that he has picked you as a potential target. It was a random pick, but one that can be very fruitful to the identity thieves. Psychological tactics are often used to get on your “good side” and hence getting your permission to facilitate this:

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us. On the course of the 2007 end of the year’s report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made Six Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars (6,750.000.00 Dollars) of which my head Office is not aware of and will never be aware of. I have since then PLACED this fund on a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a beneficiary.

As a Manager in the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am compelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account. I intend to part with 40% of this fund to you as gratification while 60% shall be for me but I need your own opinion on this. If you accept my offer you can contact me on my private mobile number +233273030030 for more details.

The sum of a couple million may seem like a dream come true, but it isn’t a dream. It’s a possible nightmare. Even if this deal was sweetly believable you would still be committing financial fraud aiding Mr. Appiah. Depending the on the country you live in you may be facing some hefty prison time. Besides the point, if you read this email this far

• You are either trying to see the intricate inner-workings of an identity theft ring, or…
• You are falsely hoping to get money that doesn’t exist

Let’s continue…

NOTE:There are practically no risk involve in this transaction. It will be a bank-to-bank transfer and I have mapped out plans of executing this transaction with full co-operation of our database administrator (he is the only person aware of the money because there is no way we can do the transaction without him) who will provide enough information into our bank’s database to give the transaction the needed history/legitimacy as well as identifying you as the depositor of the funds, if you accept to go along with me.

No risk involve… I meant involved. Sure there is no huge risk for Kofi Appiah as he doesn’t exist. And if he did… He would not give you his real name, would he now?

All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor of this fund and provide an account where this money will be transferred into by our head office, if you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response as soon as you receive this mail.

With Regards,
Mr.Kofi Appiah.

So there you have it. Mr. Appiah is very eager to get your bank account number and he wants you to contact him on his private mobile phone so he can guide you to obtain other related information:

• Name and address which will be used for legitimizing the fake paperwork
• Bank routing and account number which will be used to transfer the $0 into your account
• Social security number may also be needed as an identifier for the no risk deal

Truthfully, this is not the case as the information will be used to extort money from you in order to further facilitate the transfer process which may require the local tax fee, maintenance fee, etc. Of course these fees don’t exist, but they are a pretext to get you to pay upfront for money which you are supposed to get after you comply. Don’t become victimized and have your identity stolen by cons. Be smarter than that. Look into your inner common sense for guidance.