419 scam: swestern@centurytel.net DR. SHOKIR GHANEM

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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 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)
- "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: swestern@centurytel.net
Reply-To: dr.shokirmohamoud@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 19:31:03 -0400
Subject: DR. SHOKIR GHANEM

Dear friend,

I have no other way to reach you than these way if the contents here under are contrary to your moral ethics. Please accept my apology, please treat with absolute secrecy and personal. I am Dr. Shokri Ghanem a Syrian National Oil Companyâ€™s procurement manager, please note that I have contacted you in good faith and the proposal is for the benefit of my son Hussein because of the situation in my ountry over 4 years now. Honestly, I am not a businessman. I hereby seek your assistance in the following ways of my funds for safe keeping.

Based on the looming war in my country, i have decided to contact you for this transaction and relationship that will led him to success. I want to inform you that, I have in my possession the sum of US2.4 Million dollars which i secure for investment for my son who has being rescued from Syria with the support of United Nations to Ghana and he is presently safe in the refuge camp in Ghana, i want to invest this fund which was deposited in the United Bank Africa and invest it wisely until the political crisis in my country is over.

I am solely interested in making a life for my son and therefore I shall require the service of a reliable person who is trustworthy and sincere and i am going to make you the beneficiary of the money and allowing you to invest for my son in your country in the event anything happens to me here. So I have a 100% authentic means of transferring the money to your country as soon as I hear from you.

If you are interested, then let me know so we can proceed as time is very important to me. I wait for your contact details so we can go into action. And i promise to offer you 30% of the sum and 70% is for my investment interest because I know that nothing goes for nothing, I hope I am been fair to you for your assistance as my receiving partner.

I have lost my wife in this crises and my other 2 sons Loma/Hassan.

Your timely response is much appreciated,

Dr Shokri Ghanem.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam