419 scam: "Mr. Fred Gamba" <mr.mather.j.russell@gmail.com> TRUST IS ALL I NEED!!!

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- mr.f.gamba@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Fred Gamba" <mr.mather.j.russell@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.f.gamba@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2023 21:19:01 +0100
Subject: TRUST IS ALL I NEED!!!

Dear Friend,

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 January 2009, the young millionaire ( Mr. Richard ) a citizen of
your country and Crude Oil dealer made a fixed deposit with my bank for 60
calendar months, valued at US$6,500,000.00 (Six Million, Five Hundred
Thousand US Dollars) and the mature date for this deposit contract was on
15th of January, 2016. But sadly he was among the death victims in the 11th
March 2011, Earthquake disaster in Japan that killed over 20,000 people.
Because he was in Japan on a business trip and that was how he met 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 had no children. Last week my Bank Management
reminded me again 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 happen 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 the same last name as 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 okay.
So It's better that we claim the money, than allow 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 information / details to you as soon as I receive
your positive reply in my private email address (mr.f.gamba@gmail.com)

Have a nice day and I Anticipating your communication.

With Regards,
Fred Gamba.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam