419 scam: "Mr. James McPherson"<jamesmcpherson12345@gmail.com> RE: URGENT

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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.

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million british pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- jamesmcpherson123@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. James McPherson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <amesmcpherson123@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:17:38 -0700
Subject: RE: URGENT

Hello Dear Friend,

I bring to you warm and cordial greetings from London, United Kingdom.

Its true that we don't know each other very well but i decided to contact you after going through your profile. My Names are Dr. James McPherson from London, England. I am working in a big bank here in London as auditor general and head of computing department. There is a bank account opened in my bank in 2000 and since 2003 nobody has operated on this account again.

After going through some old files I discovered that the owner of this account is a wealthy businessman who died in a plane crash with his wife. This man died without a [heir] or next of kin hence the money is floating in his dormant account and if I do not remit this money out of the country urgently it will be forfeited to the government.

According to the banking laws, every dormant account is closed after 10 years and the entire money is returned to the government as UNCLAIMED FUND. I don't want the government to claim this money for nothing, I want us to work together to claim this money. The owner of this account is a foreign customer, that is why i need a foreigner from another country to handle this business with me.

I took the courage to look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important transaction of £12,000,000.00 (Twelve Million British Pounds Sterling). I will use my position and influence in the bank to effect the legal approval and onward transfer of this fund into your bank account with appropriate clearance from foreign payment department. But you have to promise me that you will not run away with the money after receiving this money in your bank account. I am afraid to do this business with someone I have never met in person, but I have to trust you and believe that we will use this opportunity to establish good relationship between us. We will destroy all documents of transaction immediately you receive this fund in your account leaving no trace.

Once you receive the money, we will share it equally 50/50, that is 50% for me and 50% for you.
If you accept my proposal, kindly reply me urgently and give me below information's so that i can forward it to the bank for immediate transfer of the funds into your personal bank account.
Here is my email jamesmcpherson123@gmail.com

Your Full Names
Your Direct Phone Number
Your Nationality
Your Age
Your Occupation

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous new year in Advance...
Sincerely yours,
Dr. James McPherson

Anti-fraud resources:

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