419 scam: "STobbs"<vqstatie@iprimus.com.au> I Crave, Your Attention

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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:
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "STobbs" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <egavanni@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 21:43:26 -0000
Subject: I Crave, Your Attention

Greetings To You,

I am writing to crave your assistance and cooperation to transfer some amount of money into your account overseas. Therefore, this communication should be held highly confidential due to my status being an active civil servant.

I wish to transfer into a safe and secured account overseas, some amount of money which was over-invoiced amount from contracts that was awarded to foreign contractors who have been duly paid on completion of their various contracts. However, by virtue of my position as civil servant, I cannot acquire these funds in my name or in any company name here in Ghana.

I am now looking for a reliable International outfit partner abroad into whose account the funds will be transferred. I have agreed on the following sharing ratio if you accept my proposal. Seventy percent (75%) for I and Twenty five percent (25%) for you the offshore Account owner. I chose you for this transaction basically because I believe it is possible looking from a professional view on your field and profession, hence this business proposal. If you are interested in this deal, I will require some information from you in order to effects transfer of the funds.

1. Your Full Names:
2. Home Address:
3. Your Company’s Name:
3. Your Office and Private Telephone Numbers:
4. Your Fax Numbers:

Please, be informed that I shall commence the processing for claims of payment once you show interest and the funds will be TRANSFERRED into your account within ten (10) working days by Telegraphic Transfer (T.T). Also note that this transaction is 100% risk free.

Best Regards,

Tobin Smith
Accountant - (Ministry for Works and Housing Ghana).

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam