419 scam: "Dr larry Kont"<carol@ctwi.net> Merry Xmas / Beneficiary Did You Send Them?

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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)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr larry Kont" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <larrykont@aol.de>
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:24:32 +0100
Subject: Merry Xmas / Beneficiary Did You Send Them?

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
Tel: Highly Confidential.
16 Walter Carrington Str. Ikoyi Lagos-Nigeria.
ASO ROCK VILLA, ABUJA ANNEX OFFICE.
>From the Desk of Dr. Larry Kont GCON.
Official Web Account:
Our Ref: FGN/OHG/OXD1/2009
TELEX: FEDGOVNIG.
Date: 31/12/09.

ATTN: Beneficiary,

Re:Release/Transfer Notice of your Approved Funds (US$10,500,000.00). May you remain favoured and I pray that this email will find you in Good Spirit and of course always in the best of health.

This letter will definitely be amazing to you because of its realistic value. Sorry for the inconveniences that was rendered to you in your line of contract / Inheritance Payment transaction with some Nigerian Officials some while ago.

Without taking much of your time, my name is Dr. Larry Kont, the Honourable Paymaster General of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (Finance ministry). Presently we are commissioned by the American government in other to avert Scam and also to avert beneficiary funds delays here in Nigeria. So far, we have succeeded in Settling (Mrs. Ann Keyser, Mr. Edward Drake, Mr. Caleb Jones etc).

Your Fund were returned to the Federal Government Treasury some while ago because you did not finalize your claim for it. A week ago, the Presidency and The Federal Executive Council collectively agreed to release the sum of US$10,500,000.00 to you but to our surprise you sent down your representatives Mr. Tim Parker and Mr. Rowland Gulf to collect this Funds on your behalf this morning.

For the fact that this Committee is faithful and under my full governance as the Honourable Paymaster General of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will like you to give me the authority to transfer your Fund into their own Bank Account in Singapore (Asia) as provided.

We await your immediate response via email and telephone.

Reply to: larrykont@aol.de
Officially Sealed,

Dr. Larry Kont.
The Honorable Paymaster General.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam