419 scam: "FROM MR JAMES FREDRICK" <contactjameshenry@gmail.com> FROM MR JAMES FREDRICK

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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:
- "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)
- "is 100% risk free" (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.
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.
- +27817415122 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "FROM MR JAMES FREDRICK" <contactjameshenry@gmail.com>
Reply-To: urgentresponse1@ovi.com
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 09:00:05 +0100
Subject: FROM MR JAMES FREDRICK

ATTN: Sir/Madam,

May I have the pleasure of introducing myself. I am Mr. James Fredrick, a
senior staff and chairman of Tender Board Committee on the award of
contracts in Department of Works and Housing here in South Africa.

I got your contact E-mail address from an international directory on
lawyers and advisers on international business in my quest to find a
trustworthy person on whom I can have confidence for colossal
international money transaction. My aim of sending this "business
proposal" to you is to solicit for your assistance and cooperation
to transfer some huge amount of money into your account overseas.
Therefore, this communication should be held in high confidence.

My colleague and I in the Department of Works and Land Affairs wish
to transfer into a safe and secured account overseas, the sum of
THIRTY TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS (US$32.5M) which is
over-invoiced amount from contracts we awarded to foreign
contractors who have been duly paid on completion of their various
contracts. This money right now is in a coded account in the Reserve
Bank of South Africa.

However, by virtue of our position as civil servants, we cannot
acquire these funds in our names or in the names of companies
here in South Africa. I was therefore asked by my colleagues on
trust and sincerity to look for a reliable international outfit
partner abroad into whose account the sum of US$32.5 Million will
be transferred. We have agreed on the following sharing ratio if
you accept our proposal. Seventy percent (70%) for us and Thirty
percent (30%) for you, the Account owner.

My choice of you for this transaction is basically hanged on your
field and profession, hence this business proposal. If you are
interested in this deal, I will require some information from you
in order to effect the transfer of the money. Please, be informed
that we shall commence processing of claims of payment once we
receive your interest from you and the funds will get into your
account within Five (5) working days by Telegraphic Transfer
(T.T).

Note that this transaction is 100% risk free. Do acknowledge the
receipt of this letter above and forward your reply to this E-mail
address (urgentresponse@ovi.com) or you can call me on my private
phone no + 27 81 741 5122.

Best Regards,
James Fredrick

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam