419 scam: "Mr Mike Hopkins" <mkhopkins2@googlemail.com> Treat As Very Confidential And Urgent

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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:

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:
- "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)
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.
- mike.hopkins9@btinternet.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Mike Hopkins" <mkhopkins2@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: mike.hopkins9@btinternet.com
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 10:45:13 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: Treat As Very Confidential And Urgent

From Mr. Mike Hopkins
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 fund 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

Halifax Bank - Hammersmith, London UK
Tel: +44-7024013518
Direct Email:-

mike.hopkins9@btinternet.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam