419 scam: MR LAWARENCE TETTEY OPOKU <cv1007868@sbcglobal.net> CONTACTING YOU PRIVATE/URGENT REPLY

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: MR LAWARENCE TETTEY OPOKU <cv1007868@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: lawrence.tetteyopoku@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:14:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACTING YOU PRIVATE/URGENT REPLY

MR LAWRENCE TETTEY OPOKU
BRANCH MANAGER
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK
TAKORADI BRANCH
ACCRA GHANA

DEAR FRIEND,

MY NAME IS MR LAWRENCE TETTEY OPOKU; I AM THE MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF GHANA LTD, TAKORADI BRANCH IN ACCRA GHANA. I WRITE YOU THIS PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH.

I MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS.I HAVE PACKAGED A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND I,AS THE BRANCH MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF GHANA, IT IS MY DUTY TO SEND IN A FINANCIAL REPORT TO MY HEAD OFFICE IN ACCRA AT THE END OF EACH BUSINESS YEAR.

ON THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR BUSINESS REPORT,I DISCOVERED THAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE $33.5M U.S.DOLLAR WHICH MY HEAD OFFICE IS NOT AWARE OF AND WILL NEVER BE.

I HAVE PLACED THIS FUNDS ON WHAT WE CALL ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT WITH NO BENEFICIARY. AS AN OFFICER OF THIS BANK I CANNOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE MONEY, SO MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS TO ASSIST ME RECEIVE THIS MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND GET 30% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AS COMMISSION.

THERE IS PRACTICALLY NO RISKS INVOLVED IT WILL BE A BANK TO BANK TRANSFER. ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND CLAIM AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THESE FUNDS WHO MADE THE DEPOSIT WITH MY BRANCH SO THAT MY HEAD OFFICE CAN ORDER THE TRANSFER TO YOUR DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT.

IF YOU ACCEPT TO WORK WITH ME I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. YOU CAN REACH ME ON MY PRIVATE TELPHONE NUMBER AS APPEARED ON THIS MAIL IF YOU THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OVER THE DETAILS THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

MR LAWRENCE TETTEY OPOKU

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam