419 scam: "Paul H. Prince. Esq" <ppaulhoward@yahoo.com> INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY!

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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:
- "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- p.paulhoward@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Paul H. Prince. Esq" <ppaulhoward@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: <p.paulhoward@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 21:15:49 +0930
Subject: INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY!

My names are Paul Howard Prince, a Lawyer. Am based in the UK.

I have been a close friend and lawyer to Muammar Gaddafi the former president of Libya for 15 years. I have been waiting for this moment with great anguish, Gaddafi's death have caused me pains. He refused to heed my advice to vacate office when i asked him to do so, he was a very resolute man. Am greatly sorry for him and his family.

Gaddafi entrusted Millions of Dollars to me for safe keeping for him abroad, he called it "COMMANDER'S RESERVE" now that he is dead i need someone very reliable to act as the beneficiary of the funds, and as the lawyer in charge i will arrange all the legal documents making you the beneficiary/heir to the funds. I need you to also know that this transaction is highly confidential since nobody else knows about the funds aside me. Please treat this matter with the confidence it deserves. My intentions is to invest the funds in Real Estate/Motel/Hotel and Resort. Or in any other business/investment's interest's and concerns you may advice or suggest.

Please read the link for your perusal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13264931

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Commentary+Gadhafi+stolen+billions+stashed+London/4348914/story.html.

I need an experienced person like you to assist me in setting up, developing the project's, managing and assuming responsibility of ownership as chairman, but will be bringing in profit monthly or annually. I need you to know that this is very urgent now, with your consent i will send you more information.

Please contact me through my private email: p.paulhoward@yahoo.com

Regards,

Paul H. Prince. Esq.

p.paulhoward@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam