419 scam: mr richards <rich_hwjwjwjwjwwjjwj@msn.com> (Help to Transfer and Invest US$16m)svc

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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:
- "hrichardson2003@gala.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27796014472 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: mr richards <rich_hwjwjwjwjwwjjwj@msn.com>
Reply-To: <hrichardson2003@gala.net>
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:05:02 +0000
Subject: (Help to Transfer and Invest US$16m)svc

From: Mr. Henry Richardson
With a warm heart I offer my friendship, and my greetings, and I hope this email letter meets you in good time. It will be surprising to you to receive this proposal from me since you do not know me personally. I only got your contact details from the South Africa Exchange Information On-line Service on my personal programmed search on the internet for a reputable company or individual to assist me sincerely & confidential which your information & profiles were very satisfactory, so i decided to contact you immediately
I am Mr. Henry Richardson, one of the Directors of Project implementation, South Africa Department of Minerals and Energy. I am making this contact with you based on the need for an individual/company who will be willing to assist me with a solution to a money transfer.
This amount $16m represents the balance of the total contract Value Executed on behalf of Department mineral resources and Energy by a foreign contracting firm, which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately, of which the actual sum has been paid.
Should you be willing to assist me in the transaction? Your share of the sum will be 30% of the $16million, 70% for me. To enable us commence, I will need your personal telephone/fax number. This would enable me brief you comprehensively on the project. PLEASE REPLY TO MY ALTERNATIVE EMAIL ADDRESS: hrichardson2003@gala.net
Best Regards,
Mr. Henry Richardson
Tel +277 9601 4472

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam