419 scam: "Mr. Stephen Reid."<info@western.co.nl> Dear Customer,

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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- salifuwilliams1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Stephen Reid." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cecillia_oceanic@live.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 01:43:24 -0800
Subject: Dear Customer,

Dear Customer,

We have just Processed a pay out of $4,500 dollars to you and you have a total balance of USD$495,500,00 dollars.

This fund was deposited with us by The United Nations Anti-Crime Commission, European Union and United States Government.

Please get back to us so that we can release the first pay out of $4,500 dollars in your name and we shall be sending you on daily basis

two pay out of $4,500 dollars each.

Please we need you to re-confirm your details below for mis-direction of funds;

1) YOUR FULL NAME.

2) YOUR RECEIVING ADDRESS.

3) YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER.

4) YOUR PROFESSION.

5) YOUR ID/AGE.

6) SCAN COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT/ DRIVING LICENCE.

Please get in touch with the customer service via email or telephone

number urgently for more information;

CONTACT PERSON: Mr. Salifu Williams

CONTACT ADDRESS: (Salifuwilliams1@hotmail.com)

Best Regard,

Mr. Stephen Reid.

Ff: Western Union Money Transfer

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam