419 scam: "Eng. Mark Mensah"<mensah@yahoo.it> CONFIDENTIAL....FROM ENG MARK MENSAH.WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU.

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Eng. Mark Mensah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <eng.markmensah03@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 15:42:22 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL....FROM ENG MARK MENSAH.WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU.

CONFIDENTIAL
TRANSFER OF $38 MILLION U.S DOLLARS.
>From the desk of: Eng. Mark Mensah

Dear. Friend,

I am making this contact with you on behalf of my company after satisfactory
Information we gathered from the Ghana Chamber of commerce and industries. I am a
Member of (Tender Board Committee) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation
(G.N.P.C)Tema. Our duties include award Evaluation, and review of Contracts.

In the Year 2001 the government awarded a contract to my company, the contract of
350-000.000 (THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION U.S DOLLARS), is for an engineering
Procurement, construction of pipeline network at tema oil refinery plant .The actual
Contract sum was deliberately paid over invoice to us (T.B.C) the project was
Executed and the contract Paid accordingly.

I and my colleagues have made every arrangement to move this fund into your personal
Account in your country, for an investment plan. 30% is for you as the sole
Beneficiary and owner of account, and 70% left for us the officials G.N.P.C. I
Will appreciate if this transaction will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

I do hope I can trust you, as a regard in light of this I would like you to forward
To the following information.

1) YOUR BANK NAME AND ADDRESS.
2) YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER.
3) YOUR PERSONAL TEL AND FAX NUMBERS.
4) NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIARY COMPANY CORPORATION.

This will enable us to forward the information to our apex bank, Ghana Commercial
Bank for the purpose of processing the immediate transfer of this fund into your
Account as the sole beneficiary. Please note that after this transaction, you will
Be giving an invitation.

Your quick response will be highly appreciated.

Best regards,

Eng. Mark Mensah
(Chairman G.N.P.C)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam