419 scam: <info.harry@info.com> Very Important Message

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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.

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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.
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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
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.
- harryjohn256@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <info.harry@info.com>
Reply-To: harryjohn256@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2017 04:59:52 -0700
Subject: Very Important Message

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Mr. Harry John assistant Branch Manager, Standard Chartered Bank United Kingdom (SCB). In July 2010, one of my customer by the name of MR. SATOSHI SAKURA from Japan who was a consultant/contractor with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Power here in London, made a numbered time fixed Deposit, valued at $11,500,000.00 (Eleven Million, Five hundred Thousand United States Dollars) for twelve (12) calendar months in my Bank branch.

I decided to reach you because presently I am in desperate need of a trust worthy foreign person for this proposal.

Upon maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his contract employers that he is no longer on earth because he died with his entire family in Japan Tsunami disaster of 11th of March 2011.

The said fund is still in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. Now the fund is $12,200,000.00 (Twelve Million Two Hundred Thousand US Dollars) because of the accumulated interest.

In accordance with UK Government Law, at the expiration of 7 (seven) years, the money will be reverted back to the ownership of the Government of United Kingdom if nobody comes forward for the claim.

Consequently, I want to present you as the next of kin to this late customer; hence you are a foreigner like him and the $12,200,000.00 (Twelve Million Two Hundred Thousand US Dollars) will be transferred to your Bank account and after the successful transfer of the funds, the money will be shared in the ratio of 65% for me, 30% for you and 5% to cover our expenses after the deal.

There is no risk involved, as I will use my position as the assistant Branch Bank Manager to secure approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this transaction within 7-working days. If this proposal interests you, let me know by sending me an email and I will send to you detailed Information on how this business would be successfully transacted.

Be informed that nobody knows about the secret of this fund except my self and I know how to cover the entire transaction.

Please include your private phone number for voice contact and reply me through this email: harryjohn256@yahoo.com

Looking forward to your urgent reply to enable me give you more details.
Thanks,

Mr. Harry John.
Assistant Branch Manager
Standard Chartered Bank
United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam