419 scam: "Mr.Fred Gamba" <ashiyounis@gmail.com> I wait for your positive response.

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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 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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.
- coc0087@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Fred Gamba" <ashiyounis@gmail.com>
Reply-To: coc0087@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2017 20:54:37 +0100
Subject: I wait for your positive response.

Good Day,

I decided to write you this proposal in good faith, believing that you will
not betray me.

I have been in search of someone with the same last name of our late
customer and close friend of mine (Mr. Richard), hence i contacted you
because both of you bear the same surname and coincidentally from the same
country, and i was pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist
each other. Meanwhile I am Mr. Fred Gamba, a reputable banker here in Accra
Ghana .

On the 15 march 2007, the young millionaire (Mr. Richard),a citizen of your
country and crude oil dealer made a fixed deposit with my bank, valued at
US$6,500,000.00 (six million, five hundred thousand US dollars) and the
mature date for this deposit contract was on 30th of November, 2014. But
sadly he was among the death victims in the 12 May 2008, earthquake
disaster in china that killed over 65,000 people. Because he was in china
on a business trip and that was how he meet his end.

My bank management is yet to know about his death, but I knew about it
because he was my friend and i am his account relationship officer, and he
did not mention any Next of Kin / heir when the account was opened, because
he was not married and no children.

Last week my bank management requested that Mr. Richard should give
instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract or not.

I know this will happen and that is why i have been looking for a means to
handle the situation, because if my bank directors happens to know that he
is dead and do not have any heir, they will take the funds for their
personal use, so i don't want such to happen. That is why i am seeking your
co-operation to present you as the Next of Kin / heir to the account, since
you bear same last name with the deceased customer.

There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you 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 in this ratio, 50/50%, i.e. Equal.

Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information highly
confidential.

I will review further informationâ€™s / details to you as soon as i receive
your positive reply to my private email address ( coc0087@yahoo.co.jp )

I wait for your positive response.

With Regards
Mr.Fred Gamba

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam