419 scam: "General Manager" <percy@percy.com> Re: Thanks for your courage.

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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)
- "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)
- "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "General Manager" <percy@percy.com>
Reply-To: hjoe_001@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 19:42:14 -0700
Subject: Re: Thanks for your courage.

Dear Friend

I am looking for a reliable person who could stand as the next of kin to Eng: Brathwaite who died in gold mining in Ghana where he worked for several years.
I am the regional manager of HFC bank, a new branch.
Eng:Brathwaite, a foreign engineer had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2011 for 36 months, valued at (Eighteen Million, Four Hundred Thousand US Dollars).
The due date for this deposit contract was 16 of January 2014.Sadly Brathwaite was among the victims of November 26, 2013 mine accident here in Accra Ghana.
Our bank management is not aware of his death. As his friend and account officer, I know all about him and he has no next of kin/ heir when he opened the account.
Brathwaite was not married and he has no children. Last week my bank management requested that I should give instructions on what to do about his funds; whether to renew the contract or not.

I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for means to handle the situation. If the bank knows that Brathwaite was dead and has no heir, they will take the funds for their personal use.
Therefore, I was determined to look for someone to present as his Next of Kin/ Heir to the account. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law.

Let me know your consent on this aspect? Please, treat this information as "top secret". We shall go over the details once I receive your response.
We can as well discuss this on phone if you could indicate your phone number. Let me know when you will be available to speak with me. Have a nice day and God bless.

Manager
HFC Bank Accra-Ghana

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam