419 scam: "Felix Godman"<info@hi5.com> OFFICIAL! REPLY 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:
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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 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.
- contactfelixgodman@i12.com (I12; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Felix Godman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.scbplc@i12.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:18:54 +0400
Subject: OFFICIAL! REPLY ASAP

Chief Auditor, Standard Chartered Bank.
Private Email: contactfelixgodman@i12.com
Subject: Confidential Business Proposal
Date: 26th July, 2010

Hello, I apologize if the contents hereunder are contrary to your moral ethics, but please treat it with absolute secrecy and personal courtesy. I am Mr. Felix Godman. an Auditor in a commercial Bank here in London UK.

In the process of auditing our Bank accounts for this quarter of the year, I recently discovered that there was a dormant account valued at the sum 7,394,890.00 (Seven Million, three hundred and ninety four thousand, eight hundred and ninety British Pounds Sterling) and after due verification of this account I discovered that the account owner is late and, that is why the account has been dormant and as such the funds are lying unclaimed in the bank. Hence the idea of presenting a foreigner to stand as next of kin to the late account owner came into my mind so as to have the total sum of 7,394,890.00 WILL transferred to you and we can both disburse the fund according to the percentage we shall agree upon. In view of this, I am seeking your co-operation and understanding to stand as heir to our deceased customer to enable us claim the fund from my bank.

If this proposal is OK by you and you do not wish to take undue advantage of my trust. Please kindly get back to me immediately strictly via my private email address only: {contactfelixgodman@i12.com} to enable me enlighten you on how we are to proceed.

I will appreciate if the details below are confirmed back to me in your email in order for me to prepare an MOU, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING that both of us will endorse in other for both parties to be protected.

FULL NAME:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER (S):
SEX/AGE: NATIONALITY:
OCCUPATION/PROFESSION:

On getting your response with the above details, we shall agree on the percentage/ratio as to how the funds shall be shared between ourselves at the conclusion of this deal. Be rest assured that this business is 100% risk free.

I wait for your prompt response.

Best Regards
Mr. Felix Godman.
Chief Auditor,
Standard Chartered Bank Plc.
London - United Kingdom.
+44 754 4429 420

NB: PLEASE NOTE THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE NOT RELATED TO MY LATE CLIENT OR NOT; THE FUND WILL STILL BE PAID TO YOU, SINCE I AM PRESENTING YOU AS HIS NEXT OF KIN.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam