419 scam: "MR MICHAEL Adams"<okc78@yahoo.com> hello my good friend

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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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR MICHAEL Adams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrmichaeladams7016@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:40:48 -0000
Subject: hello my good friend

THE REGIONAL BRANCH MANAGER
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK OF GHANA,
ACCRA GHANA.

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. MICHAEL. Adams I am the regional manager of Standard Chartered Bank of
Ghana Takoradi branch in the western region of Ghana. I came to know you in my
Private Search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential
transaction. I write you this proposal in good faith.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and me, as the
regional manager of the Standard Chartered Bank it is my duty to send in a
financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of each
business year. On the course of 2009 business report, I discovered that my
branch in which I am the manager made Three million Two hundred and fifty
thousand united state dollars ($3,250,000.00)which my head office are not aware
of and will never be aware of. 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 this 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 are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank-to-bank transfer and
all I need from you is to stand and claim as the original depositor of these
funds as who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office can order
the transfer to your designated bank account. If you accept this offer to work
with me, and you find this proposal Suitable for you do furnish me with the
following information.

Full Name................................................

Contact Address............................................

Private Telephone Number....................................

Age........................................................

Occupation and Position....................................

I will appreciate it very much, If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not
make undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed on you, and I assure you we
can achieve it successfully.

Await your response,

Best regards,
Mr. MICHAEL. Adams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam