419 scam: "Mr.Denis Richard" <seamail@mail.cybernet.tj> TREAT AS 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:

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)
- "million pounds" (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)
- ",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)
- "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)
- "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.
- denis_rich02@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Denis Richard" <seamail@mail.cybernet.tj>
Reply-To: denis_rich02@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2013 21:01:12 +0500 (TJT)
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT:

>From the desk of
Mr.Denis Richard
Chief Auditor,
Barclays Bank Coventry UK.

Greetings to you and to your family.I am Mr.Denis Richard, The Presently
Chief Auditor, Barclays Bank Coventry UK. Do not be surprise of this mail
since we have not meet or had a previous correspondence. Please bear with
me,I will really like to have a good cooperation with you, and I have a
special reason why I decided to write you because of the urgency of this
transaction. It gives me more joy because I do believe that we both have
to be open-mind and sincere as to know each other very well.

I have only written to seek your indulgence and trustful. On a routine
inspection I discovered a dormant account with a Balance of
(20,000,000.00).Twenty Million Pounds Sterling's! On Further
investigation; I also discovered that the account holder is Late Mr. John
Shumejda, an American Citizen, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).Agco,
the Global Agricultural Equipment Manufacturer, he died in Plane crash at
Birmingham Airport on 4th Jan, 2002. Visit the website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1742404.stm

Mr Shumejda was married with no children. He died leaving no beneficiary
to the account, and the bank will approve this money to any foreigner who
have information about this account which I will provide to you. Because
the former operator of this account is a foreigner from Florida in
American and I am certainly sure that he is dead and nobody will come to
claim this money again. Therefore I need your full cooperation in this
transaction, I will provide all the necessary information needed to back
you up in this transaction; I want to assured you that this transfer is
100% risk free.

Thus, for your indulgence and support, I propose an offer of 40% of the
total amount to be yours after the transfer has been successfully
concluded. Kindly reply stating your interest and I shall furnish you with
more details and necessary procedure with which to make the transfer done.

And after I and my family will visit your country for an investment.

Thanks and God bless.
Sincerely yours,
Mr.Denis Richard
denis_rich02@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam