419 scam: "ASSIST"<preyet@fsmail.net> ASSISTANCE

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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)
- "demurrage " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan scam.
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.
- richardwilliams87@googlemail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "ASSIST" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infoclaims.lawyers@googlemail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:24:03 +0100
Subject: ASSISTANCE

FROM, LARRY WILLIAMS SIMMENS.
Email: richardwilliams87@googlemail.com
Dear Friend,
Compliments of the day to you and your family. How are you? I know you may be surprised to receive this letter, please consider this letter as a request I am Richard Siemens the son of Late Frank Ivan Siemens who was murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact information's through the South African Trade and Business Information services and I assure you that nobody knows about this transaction except me.
Before the death of my Father he took me to UK to deposit the sum of US$24.8M (TWENTY FOUR MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) in a private Security & Finance Company here in LONDON, when He foresees the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was deposited as family valuables to avoid much demurrage cost from the Security Company. This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and also for the establishment of a new farm in Swaziland.
The land disputes started when Zimbabwean President Mr. Robert Mugabe introduced a new Land Act reform, which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few black farmers. This resulted too many killings by Zimbabwe war veterans and some lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot of people were killed because of this land reformed Act for which my father was one of the victims. It is on this background that I am currently staying in UK as refugee but now I have decided to transfer my father's money to a foreign country since the laws of UK prohibits refugees from opening any bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction throughout the territorial zones of UK.
Please, I need your assistance to transfer this fund to your trusted overseas bank account. For your efforts and assistance, I have agreed to give you 30% of the total sum, while 5% is mapped out to re-imbues all the expenses incurred in the course of this transaction and 65% will be for my family investment in your country. Note that this transaction is 100% clear and Risk-Free, as I have made every necessary arrangement for a successful deal. The only thing I solicit for is your total assistance to transfer this money, complete trust and assurance that my own part of money will be safe when transferred to your account. Kindly keep this business proposal highly confidential for security reasons.
If you are interested in assisting me, send your reply through Email Address I will respond to you immediately with this information on how the transfer of this fund can be made to your country upon acceptance.
I look forward to hearing from you immediately you receive this mail.
Best regards,
Richard Siemens
(For the family).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam