419 scam: "STEPHEN MENSAH" <stephenmensahghana@yahoo.co.uk> Re: GET BACK TO ME ASAP

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "STEPHEN MENSAH" <stephenmensahghana@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: drstephenmensahgh@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 05:52:37 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Re: GET BACK TO ME ASAP

>From The Desk Of the Regional Manager
International Commercial Bank. (ICB)
Tema Branch ,Accra Ghana

I am Mr. Stephen Mensah, the Regional Manager of international
Commercial Bank. (ICB) , Accra-Ghana in west Africa. During our auditing
section, I discovered that the sum of USD $7.500,000 (Seven million Five
Hundred thousand U.S. dollars) was prepaid and Un-recorded in the books
of Accounts. I discovered that it has been floating since 2001 through
2008 in my bank. This is found out to be over influence on contract
payments. Personally the information is kept secret by me to enable the
whole plan and ideas profitable and successful during the time of
transfer. I have placed the fund in an Escrow Coded account without a
beneficiary (anonymous) to avoid trace. I have packaged this
transaction for our benefit. As well as to inform you that this
transaction is 100% risk-free.

On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you would be entitled to 35%
sum as gratification ,while 5% will be set aside to take care of all the
expenses during the time of transfer and also telephone bills, while 60%
will be for me and my family.Please, be adviced to keep this as top-secret
and confidential, as I am still in service and intend to retire from the
bank service after we conclude this transfer.I will be monitoring the
whole situation here in my bank until you confirm the money in your
account, and ask us to come down to your country for subsequent sharing
in accordance to our percentages.

I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible stating your wish in this
transaction,

Yours Faithfully
Mr. Stephen Mensah

Anti-fraud resources:

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