419 scam: MR WILLIAMS MENSAH <officess233----dir@att.net> YOUR REPLY IS URGENTLY NEEDED

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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:
- "million united states 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)
- ",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)
- "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- mr.williamsmensah1965@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MR WILLIAMS MENSAH <officess233----dir@att.net>
Reply-To: mr.williamsmensah1965@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2011 00:04:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR REPLY IS URGENTLY NEEDED

Dear Sir,

l hope this may not constitute sort of embarrassment to you please,

My name is Mr Williams Mensah [DR],I am the regional bank manager of the international Commercial Bank of Ghana,kaneshie branch of west region.

I came to know you in my Private Search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this Confidential Transaction with.

I am 46 years of age and married with 3 lovely kids.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit both of us, as the regional Auditor General of the international commercial bank Ltd. it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of each year .

On the course of last two year 2009 end of year report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made an excess profit of five million united states dollars [US$5,000,000.00] which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have since placed this fund on what we call SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without any beneficiary.

As an officer of the bank I can not be directly connected to this money, this is why I.m contacting you for us to work so that you can assist and receive this money into your bank account for us to SHARE. I will offer you 20% of the total amount for your assistance.

Note that there are practically no risks involved in this transaction , it will be bank to bank transfer, all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of this fund who made the deposit with Takoradi branch so that my Head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account in your country,

Do not make undue the advantage of the trust I have bestowed on you, and I assure you we can achieve it successfully. I wait soon to hear from you.

Thanks,

Mr Williams . Mensah[DR]

Email:mr.williamsmensah1965@yahoo.com

Accra Ghana[West Africa]

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam