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

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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)
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.
- mkhp12831@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Mike Hopkins" <mkhopkins2@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: mkhp12831@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:59:15 +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:- mkhp12831@yahoo.co.jp

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam