419 scam: "MR. PETER O'BRIEN"<peterobrien1@e-mail.ua> INVESTMENT PROPOSAL, NO UPFRONT PAYMENT

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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- peterobrien001@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. PETER O'BRIEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <peterobrien02@e-mail.ua>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 16:01:13 -0500
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL, NO UPFRONT PAYMENT

Dear Prospective Partner,

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY, NO UPFRONT PAYMENT

Firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail. This is due to the urgency and importance of the information. This project is based on trust, confidentiality and sincerity of purpose in order to have an acceptable meeting of the minds.

My name is Mr. Peter O'Brien, General Manager Fund Investment Dept., Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, HSBC Banking Group. Base on good recommendation that you are a straight forward fellow and reliable to do business with in areas of investment and financial partnering, I am writing to acquaint you of a transaction and monetary transfer of US$12.5 Million which is currently domiciled in at my Bank Head office. I need you as a partner to have custody of this funds and we can invest on Real Estate, oil and gas, stocks and bonds and other viable investments in the United States after the funds are transferred to you.

No financial obligations will be required of you as long as trust and mutual goals applies. You will not send a dime to me or to the Bank as we already have all arrangement sorted out to swiftly conclude this transfer with you through a financial aid system (FINANCING COMPANY) that will handle all expenses.

I await your urgent response. You can reach me on my personal email: peterobrien001@hotmail.com

Best Regards,

Peter O'Brien

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam