419 scam: Phillip Tetteh <ptetteh1@gmail.com> HELLO

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "hundred thousand us dollars" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
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.
- mr.philliptetteh@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Phillip Tetteh <ptetteh1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.philliptetteh@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 16:41:44 -0700
Subject: HELLO

I have been in search of someone with your name, so when I saw your name I
was pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist each other. I am
Mr. Phillip Tetteh, a Banker here in GHANA. I believe it is fate that
brought me across you on through this medium. I am having an important
business discussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest
you because, it is in connection with your name and you are going to
benefit from it.

In 2007,One Late Dr. Cardiff Thompson citizen of your country had a fixed
deposit with my bank for 36 calendar months, valued US$7,400,000.00
(Seven Million, Four Hundred Thousand US Dollars) the maturity date for
this deposit contract was this 16th August 2010. Sadly Dr.Cardiff was
among the death victims in the 12th May 2008 Earthquake disaster that
occurred in the Sichuan province of China that killed thousands of people.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-22398684. He was in China on a
business trip and that was how he met his end, I have carried out various
inquiries to locate any of his client and extended relatives but this has
proved unsuccessful. Since the demise of this our customer, Dr. Cardiff,
who was an seasoned oil Merchant/contractor here. I have kept a close watch
of the deposit records and accounts and since then no body has come to
claim the said money in this a/c as next of kin.

There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of law.
It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to
take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am
suggesting we share the funds equal, 50/50% to both parties, my share will
assist me to start my own company which has been my dream.
Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information as TOP
SECRET. We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent response
strictly through my personal Email address: mr.philliptetteh@yahoo.com . I
await your timely response.

Best Regards,
Phillip Tetteh.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam