419 scam: "MORRIS HALL" <hallart@libero.it> REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED

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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:
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "money orders " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "halls.artgallery@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "MORRIS HALL" <hallart@libero.it>
Reply-To: halls.artgallery@live.com
Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:59:53 +0100
Subject: REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED

--
Dear Sir/Ma,

Good day to you, my name is Morris Halls owner of Halls Art Gallery in
East-London United Kingdom UK.
We normally market all our art works & galleries to private companies
in United States of America but we are always facing serious
difficulties when it comes to payments, this is because our customers
in America are always offering to pay with U.S POSTAL MONEY ORDER,
CHECKS OR direct wire transfer into a secured USA Bank account such as
EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT ACCOUNT .

We have had a lot of experiences in the past trying to clear payment
through checks and money orders. We have resolved these issues with
our customers that they cannot make payments via checks and money
orders any longer.. We now accept swift wire transfer into Equity line
of credit account in the United States or Credit card only.
Why they requested for such account is that the funds will be more
secured into such account and the IRS will never question any amount
of money coming in or going out of the account.
Right now, we are looking for a representative in AMERICA who can be
helping us to receive our payments through his EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT
OR CREDIT CARD in USA and wire the cash to wherever we may instruct
you, so we write to seek for your help in partnership, we want you to
be our AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE so that all our customers can be paying
to your EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT OR CREDIT CARD in your favor.
I need you to be my representative in the United States if you own
such account. If you accept this offer, you will deduct 10% from any
payment you received as your commission, and send the balance, as you
will be instructed.
This transaction is 100% risk free and it is legal from the American
Government, if you are interested, kindly send me the below
information's: to my personal email. halls.artgallery@live.com

1. Your Complete Full Names.
2. Your Residential Address.
3. Your Telephone Number and Your Mobile Phone Number For Easy Communication.
4. Are You A Property Owner?

So fill free to make up your mind and email me back with the above
information's to enable us proceed. Thanks for finding time to read my
proposal.

Mr.Morris Halls
Director of Halls gallery Inc,
London, United Kingdom

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