419 scam: "Richard Harry"<richardharryarmy@gmail.com> Can I Trust You?

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- rha_army@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Harry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rha_army@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:09:23 +0100
Subject: Can I Trust You?

Dear Recipient,

I do hope my email meet you in good health. I am Ltc. Richard Harry, an
American Soldier with the 3rd Infantry Division, in Iraq. I am writing to
ask your agreement as the custodian to an asset value of $16 Million that
we are transferring out of this country. My partner and I are in need of a
good partner someone we can trust to actualize this venture. The money is
from oil proceeds and legal. But we are transferring it through a
diplomatic means to your house directly or a safe and secured location of
your choice, via the safe passage of a diplomatic courier. If you're
agreeable get yourself a deal and replying to my private Email:
rha_army@yahoo.com

Once you receive the funds, you are to take an awesome reward of 30% and
custody our part for further instruction on whether you're shrewd enough
in our assessment to invest our share. Your part of the deal is being the
trustful custodian to these funds. Please endeavor to observe utmost
confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most
profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to
invest my share in your country. Upon receiving your reply, I will then
furnish you with a more comprehensive detail of this transaction and what
is required of you.

Please reply to my private Email: rha_army@yahoo.com

I await your reply.

Yours sincerely,
Ltc. Richard Harry.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam