419 scam: Alexander Akuchukwu <alexander.akuchukwu@yahoo.com.ph> My proposal to you...

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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.

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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)
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "million 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)
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.
- akuchukwua@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Alexander Akuchukwu <alexander.akuchukwu@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: a.akuchukwu@yahoo.com.vn
Date: Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:15:26 -0400
Subject: My proposal to you...

Dear friend,
Please forgive me if this message came to you in a manner you did not expect, it is due to the urgent nature of the message I want to pass to you. My name is Alexander Akuchukwu. I am a lawyer to late MR. BRONISLAW GEREMEK. Late Mr. Geremek was a Polish citizen and he was a Category "A" contractor to the Nigerian Government before he died in a car crash on July 13, 2008.
I contacted you because of the payment of Twenty Two Million United States Dollars for the last contract Mr. Geremek did for Nigerian Government under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2006. INEC is ready to pay him for that contract now, but there is no one to receive the payment because he has no recorded Next-of-Kin in his file at INEC. INEC has mandated me as his lawyer to produce an ?appointed Next-of-Kin? who will receive the payment. On this capacity, therefore, I seek your consent to present you as an appointed Next-of-Kin, so that this contract payment will be paid to you.
Once the payment is made to you, both of us will share it at the ratio of 50/50. That is, Eleven Million for you and Eleven Million for me. I must let you know that your name and place of residence does not matter in this process. Also understand that we shall not be doing wrong to humanity by claiming the money because if we do not claim it, the Government will retain it. I want to assure you that this will be done under a legitimate and official way such that we will not go against the law. I will provide necessary legal documents to back up the claim. The most important thing I need is your honest cooperation.
If you are interested in this proposal and offer, kindly indicate by sending the following data to me for immediate submission to INEC for the claim. The data I need from you are: (1) your full name. (2) Your full address. (3) Your age & occupation. (4) Your private telephone. Let me hear from you.
Best regards,
Alexander Akuchukwu.
Email: akuchukwua@yahoo.com.ph

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam