419 scam: Harmony Hope <hokkou@pastel.ocn.ne.jp> Dear Friend,

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
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.
- +22998484847 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Harmony Hope <hokkou@pastel.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Harmony Hope <hope.harmony65@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2015 22:59:00 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

Greetings. I know that this message will look strange, surprising and probably unbelievable to you, but it is true and reality. I want to transfer the sum of: ï¿¡15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Pounds) to you. I am contacting you by the Will of God. My name is: Engineer Mrs. Hope Harmony, I am a British business woman specialized in mining of raw Gold and Diamond in Africa; but now I am very sick with esophageal cancer which has damaged almost all the cells in my organisms/system and I will soon die according to my doctors. My late husband died in an accident with our two daughters few years ago leaving me with our only son whom is just 9 years old. Now, my most concern is my only little son whom does not know anything about live and has nobody to take care of him after I am dead; because I and my late husband does not have any relation, we both grew up in the orphanage home and got married under orphanage as orphans. If I die soon, my innocent child would be left alone in the wilderness of live and I do not wish to send him to any orphanage home, I want my son to grow up in the hands of an individual, not orphanage. Please, i am begging you in the name of God to sincerely accept my proposal; let me order/instruct my bank to wire transfer my entire fund worth the sum of: ï¿¡15 MILLION to your account in your country immediately, then you take my son to your home and raise him as your own son.

Please reply immediately so that i will tell you full details on how the money would be transferred to your account and send you all the vital documents for your perusal. You can call me via my nurse's phone number Tel: +22998484847.

THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

Yours Sincerely,
Engr. Mrs. Hope Harmony.
IN GOD I TRUST.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam