419 scam: "Ola Matthews"<e.mail@ministryofinterior.com> ATTN:REPLY REQUESTED

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ola Matthews" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ola.matthews103@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:17:33 -0700
Subject: ATTN:REPLY REQUESTED

Hello,

My name is Ola Matthews a partner/Member with AGRIC-PRO GH LTD, We are

contractors with the {GHANA COCOA BOARD ]. Besides being a contractor, my company

is also involved with exportation of Cocoa and also known with branches in some

strategic locations in my country.

Through a contact of mine With the Cocoa Board ,I did execute a contract here in

Ghana two years ago and the contract which amounted to the sum of USD 9.5

Million, which was paid in my account with an investment company here in Ghana.

Due to the last problem with the Cocoa Smugglers who were caught smuggling cocoa

with my connections through Ivory coast- Ghana borders for sale to Cocoa

Merchants, I am being probed by my company {Agric-PRO GH LTD } for issues of funds

and illegal business transaction, and in order to move from the prying eyes of my

co-partners .i now need a foreign company/partner to help me in the transfer of

this funds.It is my belief that some of my partners who are aware of this funds

are doing all they can to divert this funds to their own account if the probing

panel finds me guilty .

The company is aware of the USD3.5M of the first contract payment{part payment}

Which is the only one accounted for.The CEO of the Investment Company who happens

to be a friend of mine is willing to help me release the balance sum of six

million($6,000,000.00) USD to any offshore account provided by me before the end

of this month . I will be willing to invest this amount into your project and

become a partner Additionally ,I am willing to part with 20% of the 6 million

USD to your company if and only you will
assist me in transferring this sum into your designated account offshore.

The necessary papers regarding the contract and the letter of offer will be
faxed or emailed to you ,and in return, we also will require your acceptance

letter before we can go ahead with this project.

REMEMBER THAT THIS TRANSACTION REQUIRES ABSOLUTE SECRECY AND CONFIDENTIALITY FOR A

SMOOTH COMPLETION.

I look forward to your response.

Regards.
Ola Matthews.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam