419 scam: "Mr.Kenneth Mark" <good.newz5@btinternet.com> Wire TransfernCommercial Investment Company Saudi Arabia.ER IN CHARGEusof our bothPŒë¸"

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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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Kenneth Mark" <good.newz5@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: kennethmark80@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:47:22 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Wire Transfer

Wire Transfer

>From the desk of Mr Kenneth Mark of Banco Santander Madrid Branch
Address: Calle Alonso Ojeda 16C/P 2A, 28007 Madrid Spain
Department of Int'l Wire Transfer/Telex Dept.

Attention,

RE:INSTRUCTION TO CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT WITH THE SUM OF US$30,500,000.00
We at this bank wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough review and
evaluation of your Inheritance/Contract funds in conjunction with the World
Bank Auditor General and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)assessment
report, your payment file was forwarded to us for immediate transfer of the
above quoted amount to your designated bank account from their offshore
account with us.

The reports given to us shows that you have been going through hard times by
paying a lot of money to see to the release of your funds. The only thing
required from you is to send all the transfer documents that will enable you
receive your fund to enable us credit your account directly by telegraphic
transfer or through any of our corresponding banks and send copies of the
funds transfer release documents to you and your bankers for confirmation.
Your transfer slip N0:BA001176894/08.Please quote this transfer slip in all
your correspondence with this office.Please find attached your ATM CARD
NO:BA00771156BA.you could use it to withdraw up $10000 from any ATM outlet.
Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited and reflect in
your account within five (5) bank working days from the day you send all the
transfer documents that will enable you receive your fund. For further
details and assistance on this Remittance Notification,
kindly forward your FULL CONTACT ADDRESS, TELEPHONE and FAX NUMBERS.

Yours sincerely,
Mr Kenneth Mark

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam