419 scam: groups@nctheatre.com Business proposal

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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:
- "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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "graves231@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: groups@nctheatre.com
Reply-To: graves231@outlook.com
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 05:20:26 -0700
Subject: Business proposal

Good day, I offer my friendship and believe you will accept me with good he=
art, was pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist each other. Y=
ou don=92t know me but I believe God want us to know each other now, I am M=
r.Victor Owusu a citizen of Ghana West Africa, An acountant and Regional Br=
anch Manager,International Commercial Bank Ghana Limited. I believe it is t=
he wish of God for me to come across you. I am having an important business=
discussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you beca=
use, it is in connection with your last name and you are going to benefit f=
rom it. A citizen of your country. Peter had a fixed deposit with my bank i=
n 2007 for 36 calendar months, valued at US$10,500,000.00 (Ten Million Five=
Hundred Thousand US Dollars only ) the due date for this deposit contract =
was this 16 of January 2010. He was among the death victims of deadly earth=
quake in China in 2008. He was in China on a business trip and that was how=
he met his end. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7410166.stm . My bank managemen=
t is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend =
and I am his account officer. He did not mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when=
the account was opened, was not married and no children. Last week my Bank=
Management requested that i should give instructions on what to do about h=
is funds, if to renew the contract. I know this will happen and that is why=
I have been looking for a means to handle the situation, because if my Ban=
k Directors happens to know that he is dead and do not have any Heir, they =
will take the funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to happen.=
That was why when I saw your last name I was happy and I am now seeking yo=
ur co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/ Heir to the account, since y=
ou have the same last name with him and my bank head quarters will release =
the account to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be exec=
uted under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach o=
f law. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directo=
rs to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am sug=
gesting we share the funds, 50/50% to both parties, my share will assist me=
to start my own company which has been my dream. Let me know your mind on =
this and please do treat this information as TOP SECRET. We shall go over t=
he details once I receive your urgent response strictly through my personal=
Info. Email address.[graves231@outlook.com] Regards, Mr. Victor Owusu.

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