419 scam: "Adams" <puadm11@gmail.com> I URGENTLY NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE..

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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Adams" <puadm11@gmail.com>
Reply-To: puadm777@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2017 15:56:50 +0100
Subject: I URGENTLY NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE..

GOOD DAY,

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL,

I was privileged to get your contact from your country's Chambers of commerce and industries here in Ghana. With all due respect, I would want to believe that my message will not embarrass you. Since no previous correspondence with you.

I am a regional manager of a security company in Accra, Ghana. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. In 2010 a foreign Contractor with the Ghana Gold Mining Corporation, (Name deliberately withheld) made a trunk box Deposit valued at US$14,700,000.00 (Fourteen Million Seven Hundred Thousand United State Dollars Only) in my branch for safe keeping for 2 years and it has been 6 years now. I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.

After a month, I sent a reminder and finally I discovered the depositor died in the WAR in Syria with his entire family. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace any of his relations were fruitless. I took the trunk box for scanning, I discovered it contained liquid cash valued US$14,700,000.00 as stated on the deposit documents.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that the depositor did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents. No one will ever come forward to claim it. The security laws stipulate at the expiration of 10 (Ten) years, the trunk box and valued will revert to the ownership of the security if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as a extended relation or a business partner to the deceased.

I will send you a letter of claim as the beneficiary/next of kin. The trunk box will be delivered to you for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 35% for you and 5% for any expenses that we are going to incur in course of the process. If you are okay with the percentage, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.

There is no risk involve at the end of the transfer of the fund in the trunk box to you as the new beneficiary, all documents relating to the transfer will be retrieved from all files and destroyed. Your urgent reply is needed once you are okay with my proposal.

Thanks,

Mr. P. Adams

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam