419 scam: "Roland George"<rogeo@mynet.com> Re: Assistance Needed.

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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:
- "affidavit of claim" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Roland George" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rolgeorge81@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:21:34 -0000
Subject: Re: Assistance Needed.

Hello,
My name is Mr.Roland George, a Liberian and a refugee currently in the Republic of Ghana with my junior sister. I am twenty-nine years of age and my junior sister is twenty-five. Both of us are in Ghana to date, having run away from Liberia due to rampant search by my late father's enemies who are hell bent to take possession of my father's deposits (funds).
It is indeed my pleasure to write this letter to you which I believe will be a surprise to you as we have not met before. I am deeply sorry if I have in any way disturbed your privacy and please forgive this unusual manner of contacting you, but this particular letter is exceptional and of very private nature. You might have doubt and distrust in your heart in respect of this message because of the fact that so many individuals have taken advantage of internet to perpetuate their nefarious activities, thereby making it extremely difficult for genuine and legitimate business class persons to get attention and recognition but please I will appreciate if I am given benefit of doubt. There is no way for me to know whether I will be properly understood, but it is my duty to write and reach out to you.

Before the tragic death of my father, he realized that he will not survive from the sickness which he discovered to be man made. As a result of his unsumountable health condition, my father gave me the deposit slip for the funds which he deposited in the vault of a Security Company in Ghana with the keys to the trunk box which contains the funds. My late Father deposited this trunk box as GOLD TREASURES in the Security Company for security reasons to prevent his enemies from having any access to the funds. Therefore the Security Company does not know that the real content of the trunk box is cash (US$12.5M in 100 dollar bill). He told me to run away with my junior sister to Accra Ghana and remain there until after claiming this fund to enable me and my sister have a sound education outside Liberia and to return to Liberia only after completing our education and investing this fund outside Liberia to take care of our good life.

I write to seek your assistance in claiming and investing the sum of US$12.5M which my father deposited in the Security Company before his death. Upon receipt of your favorable response, I will introduce you to my father's lawyer and friend who will help us in getting an Affidavit of Fact from a High Court in Ghana and an Affidavit of Claim from the Ministry of Justice, Ghana. These two affidavits will compel the Security Company to effect the change of beneficiary name and particulars of this fund to your name as the new owner and the change of beneficiary document will enable you to claim the fund on our behalf.

We will discuss the sharing percentage when I hear from you and I will be ready to tell you the name of the Security Company where this fund is currently lying unclaimed.
I am confidently waiting for your response and remember to keep this message very confidential considering the prevalent circumstances which I enumerated above.
Yours sincerely,
Roland George

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam