It’s been a while since I post an entry on scam awareness. Basically, what I’m trying to do is to highlight some of the popular scam which is going on. It’s sad but even with the on-going education of scam awareness, people still fall for it. Hopefully my little contribution here will tip the scale a bit.
I received this email recently. To save some space, I’m attaching the whole email at the comment section.
Generally, The person’s name is Larry and he is a director of a bank in Ghana. One of his client apparently died leaving $4.5 million with no heir to claim them.
Now, he’s asking whether I can present as the next kin to collect the money. If I agree I will be awarded with 30% of the wholel amount. That’s very gracious don’t you think?
/end email
Why it is confirmed a scam? (Please refer to the email in the comment section)
- There’s no explanation as to where he got my email. Even so, if you are about to do an illegal transaction involving millions of dollars, will you believe a complete stranger?
- There is one flaw. The client was said to die on the 21st of April 2001. That’s 7 years difference.
- The usage of a yahoo email is very suspicious looking.
- I’ve received about 2 or 3 emails very similar to this. A clear sign
How it scams?
It starts very convincingly that you bear no risk at all. But in time, I can guarantee you that the scammer will start asking you to deposit some money with the reason that his account is being monitored.
The amount may not be that much. Maybe a few hundred dollars. And you will be tempted since comparing that amount to the millions you will be receiving, that is nothing.
The scammer will then ask for more money to be used for other administration fee. This time it will be in thousands of dollars. He will even guarantee you your money back anytime you want.
Of course your money is already lost.
- I wonder -
Have you ever received emails alike?
Disclaimer - I am not by any chance associating Ghana with scam. It just so happen that the email I received stated the name.
Related Post
Scam email attached
From Mr Larry Abel Peters
International Commercial Bank Ltd.
Accra, Ghana
Auditing & Accounting Department
Reply To My private email larrypeters1930@yahoo.com
Dear Friend,
I wish this my proposal will not come to you as a surprise I am Mr Abel Peters,a Regional Director of ICB Bank Accra Ghana. (Economic community of West African Bank) with regional Office here in Accra Ghana. We had a foreign client,who used to work with Shell International Republic of Ghana,he deposited a huge amount of $4.5m(Four million five hundred thousand United States Dollars),with our Bank.
Eventually this client, died on the 21st of April 2001,our client, his wife and their children were involved in a car accident along Kara-Sokode expressway while arriving from a Holiday to Accra Ghana.
A situation I have monitored closely with my position in the Bank. Now, having monitored this deposit and managed it over the years before his death, and hence nobody has showed up as the next of kin for the past three years plus, I have removed the file to my private vault.
I seek your consent to present as the next of kin to the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. I now solicit for your assistance to present you as the next of kin as every other arrangement has being concluded by me and I am only waiting for a foreigner to enable me move the fund to his designated foreign bank account in his country.
This does not have any risk attached to it as all the internal documentations will be handled by me. I therefore request you to confirm your interest by a return message and I will furnish you with details but do not forget to keep top secret. you will be entitled to 30% of the total sum as gratification, while 5% will be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone/fax bills, and 65% will be for me and my partner.
I look forward to hearing from you immediately you receive this message. and reply me on this my private email larrypeters1930@yahoo.com
Best Regards,
Mr Larry Abel Peters
N/B please reply me on my private email larrypeters1930@yahoo.com
Karut…just yesterday i receive this kind of email…dear friend…u have win bla bla bla bla…if u want ur price plz bla bla bla…u’ve won 2.3million…
ampeh ya ampun…terus i spam kan aje email itew…
Dalam hidup ni tarak duit bergolek dtg kat kita…rite…
aRa - masalahnya ada lagi org yg terpengaruh tu. clerk saya sendiri kena arii tu, yg sms akademi fantasia tu, dan yg paling mengecewakan, dia siap bagi pin number kad atm. tu dah kire basic scam tu.
adeh