419 scam: "Mr. George Barnor" <geroge_barnor@outlook.com> TRANSFER...

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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)
- "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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. George Barnor" <geroge_barnor@outlook.com>
Reply-To: georg.barnor@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 08 Jan 2017 20:42:12 -0200
Subject: TRANSFER...

--
TRANSFER OF US$ 22.5 M (TWENTY TWO MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED
STATES DOLLARS) & BUSINESS INVESTMENTS PARTNERSHIP.
First, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction,
this is by virtue of it's nature as being utterly confidential and top
secret.
I am the chairman of the Economic Recovery Committee (ERC) set up by the
present civilian Government of Ghana to review contracts awarded by the
past administrations. In the course of our work at the Committee, we
discovered this fund which resulted from gross re-valuation of contracts
by top government officials of the past administration. The companies
that executed the contracts have been duly paid to the contractors
leaving the sum of US$22.5 Million floating in the escrow account of the
Central Bank of Ghana.
I have therefore been mandated as a matter of trust by my colleagues in
the committee to look for an overseas partner to whom we could transfer
the sum of US$22.5 Million legally subcontracting the entitlement to
you/your company. This is bearing in mind that our civil service code of
conduct forbids us from owning foreign company or running foreign
account while in active government service hence the need for an
overseas partner.
We have agreed that the funds will be shared thus after it has been paid
into your account:
(1) 20% of the money will go to you for acting as the beneficiary of the
fund.
(2) 5% has been set aside as an abstract projection for reimbursement to
all parties for incidental expenses that may be incurred in the course
of the transaction.
(3) 75% to us the government officials (with which we wish to commence
any importation business in conjunction with you).
All logistics are in place and all modalities worked out for the smooth
conclusion of the transaction within ten to fourteen working days of
commencement after receipt of the following information: Your full
name/ company name, address, company's details & activities, telephone &
fax numbers.
These information will enable us make the applications and lodge claims
to the concerned ministries & agencies in favour of your company and it
is pertinent to state here that this transaction is entirely based on
trust as the solar bank draft or certified cheque drawable in any of the
Central Bank of Ghana correspondent bankers in America, Asia and Europe
is going to be made in your name.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this email.
Warmest Regards,
George Barnor (Chairman ERC).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam