419 scam: "Mr. K Berge" <k102berge@gmail.com> Hello, I am contacting you Privately

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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:
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. K Berge" <k102berge@gmail.com>
Reply-To: enqroffice1@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 02:00:47 +0200
Subject: Hello, I am contacting you Privately

Hello,

Don't be offended, I came across your profile when I was browsing on the
internet and you really got me interested, my dear, I want to have a good
friendship with you and this can strengthen TRUST AND FAIRNESS between us.
I'm Auditor G.B. Kenneth a senior banking Officer With Lloyds TSB Bank here
in London.

I have a business to introduce, can I transfer (GBP:30M) Thirty Million
British pounds from our foreign deceased Client to your bank account which
we can share for our mutual benefits, percentage should be 40% for you, 5%
for expenses, while 55% for me, So because of irrevocable order to approve
this money to any indigenous person here and I therefore seek for a foreign
beneficiary. I will tell you more about this if this proposal is being
acceptable by you. Kindly forward your name and phone number for easy
communication.

Reply me,
Yours Sincerely,
Auditor G.B. Kenneth

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam