419 scam: "Richard Berner" <ricberner@hotmail.com> Be informed

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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Berner" <ricberner@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ricberner@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 23:07:11 +0900
Subject: Be informed

US Department of Treasury
Office of Financial Research (OFR)
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220

Dear Sir,

Re: Advisory on Arrested Attempted USD9.3M Funds Diversion
This is to officially inform you that the United States Department of
Treasury's Office of Financial Research (OFR) has just been informed about
arrest of three persons for funds diversion in South Africa. These three
persons comprised of two Nigerians and One Israeli details of the arrest
are contained in the link below:

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Sars-confiscates-about-R100m-in-dollars-at-Lanseria-20140914

Hope you carefully reviewed the contents as contained in the link above,
although these three persons claimed that the funds were for a purchase of
arms, the US Treasury has been informed that these funds in the exact
value of nine million three hundred thousand United States Dollars
(USD9.3M), were actually funds being diverted as result of unclaimed
payments by beneficiaries.

According to our file your profile is contained in the listing as one of
the unclaimed beneficiaries and thus our office here at the OFR is
prepared to make this payment to you with your due cooperation. In other
to claim this funds (USD9.3M), you are to send a valid picture
identification that is either driver's license or international passport
and a recent copy of your utility bill to verify your recent mailing
address.

Please reply with your contact details for proper verification and
processing.

Kindest regards,
Richard Berner
Director of the
Office of Financial Research (OFR)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam