419 scam: Stephen Badu <mhjgtrh@outlook.com> Letter

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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:
- "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)
- "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.
- emailsbgh@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Stephen Badu <mhjgtrh@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 08:48:02 +0000
Subject: Letter

Hello,

I am Stephen Badu. A citizen of Republic of Ghana. I had a client who was a gold merchant. He lived in Europe and died in Ghana. He had businesses in Ghana, and the Middle East. He has a total deposit of ($5.9 MILLION DOLLARS) in a dormant account, in Europe.

I received official letters from the bank last week suggesting proceeding for confiscation of this asset; in line, with European, financial laws. For this reason, I decided once again to search for a potential person, who share the same last name with him, (however distant). Information from the National Immigration stated that he was alone, on entry into Ghana.

All efforts to trace any of his relatives proved unsuccessful there by creating an avenue for claiming of this said funds on presentation of a trustworthy person that can stand as the Inheritor to the deceased. I need, your consent to present you as the Inheritor of this fund, because you have the same last name with him. If you agree to work with me, the bank will transfer, this fund, to you, and both of us will share it based on percentage %.

To indicate your interest, send response to the e-mail address provided, as follows: emailsbgh@yahoo.com

Faithfully,

Mr. Stephen A. Badu esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam