419 scam: "From Mr.Herbert Adams" <herbertadams50@gmail.com> Investment Proposal,

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "million dollars" (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)
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.
- +27736663995 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- herbertadams50@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "From Mr.Herbert Adams" <herbertadams50@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 08:27:41 +0200
Subject: Investment Proposal,

<herbertadams50@gmail.com>
CONFIDENTIAL ATTN:
Sir/MadamI am Mr. Herbert Adams the chief accountant of the federal
ministry of works and housing here in South Africa. Your contact was
curtsey of your country's chamber of commerce during my visit to Lowell
Massachusset. I write to solicit your assistance in a windfall that
emanated in my ministry. During the FIFA world football tournament 2010
hosted by my country (South Africa) the government awarded a huge contract
of (Three Hundred and Sixty Million Dollars) $360M USD contract to a German
firm, for the building and refurbishing of the, national stadium that
hosted the opening and closing matches of the world cup. The contract was
well executed, commissioned, and the full contract sum paid in good faith
to the foreign contractors. Consequently, myself who is the custodians of
the account book over invoiced the said contract to the tone of ($36M USD)
Thirty Six Million Dollars. The payment has been approved by my government
hence my soliciting your assistance to enable us transfer the said sum into
your account for sharing. Under the South African civil service rule, we
are not authorized to have an account that will contain such huge amount of
money hence my writing. For your assistance, I have resolved to give 40%
of the total sum to you. 50% for me 10%. For any expenses incurred, I will
meet you for sharing and re-imbursement on confirmation of the money into
your private or nominate account. All you are needed to do is to forward
your telephone numbers, fax, occupation, age, country. Also reply via my
private email ( herbertadams50@gmail.com <herbertadams50@gmail.com>) or
get back to me through my TEL: +27 73 666 3995 including your private
telephone number, fax and email for easy communication. Please do not over
emphasize the important of keeping this transaction secret and confidential
for my safety as a public servant, and for the success of this transaction
. Do not be skeptical as the person you are dealing with in this
transaction is a seasoned administrators who have put in 20 to 30 years in
service and I am not ready to dent my image. Be assured that you are
dealing with responsible government official. Awaiting your immediate
response Best regards Mr Herbert Adams*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam