419 scam: "Mike Hopkins"<mikehopkins11@live.com> Treat As Very Urgent And Confidential !

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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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024013518 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mike Hopkins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mikehopkins1@live.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:14:52 +0100
Subject: Treat As Very Urgent And Confidential !

21 Horse Guards Road,Hammersmith
SW1A 2HQ; London UK

Dear Friend,

Please accept my sincere apologizes if my email does not meet your business or personal ethics. I will first introduce myself as Mr Mike Hopkins, the chief

Auditor with Halifax Bank Hammersmith London UK

One of our accounts, with holding balance of £6.500,000,000 (Six Million Five Hundred thousand pounds Sterling) has been dormant and last operated for years

ago. From my investigations, the owner of the said account,Is a US citizen domicile in the UK by name Mr Ed Swingle, 59 who died along with his entire

family in crash at Birmingham Airport on 4th Jan,2002. View this website for verification
http://www.cwn.org.uk/business/a-z/a/agco/2002/01/020104-air-crash.htm

Since then, nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money, as he has no family member that has any knowledge as to the existence of either

the account or the funds;

I have confidently discussed this issue with some of the bank officials and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. My proposition to

you, is to seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin and beneficiary of this late client, so that the proceeds of this account valued a huge sum

shall be paid to you, and then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed percentage of 30% for you,While 60% for me and others involved, 10% shall be used

for expenses while the remainder shall be given to a reputable charity home because the money is owned by a deceased person.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other

illegal act, funds will be released to you after necessary processes have been followed.

Let me hear from you as soon as you get this message, so we can proceed.

Sincerely Yours,
Mr Mike Hopkins
Tel:+44-7024013518
Direct all reply to:

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam