419 scam: "Olivier Amalaman"<chas02169@verizon.net> Attn: To Whom It May Concern.

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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:
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Olivier Amalaman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <olivieresq@administrativos.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2013 01:57:47 -0700
Subject: Attn: To Whom It May Concern.

Attn: To Whom It May Concern,

Re. Payment Advice for $12. 200,000, 000 USD Dollars.

I am communicating to you from the state treasury office and wish to inform you that we have thwarted the irregularities linking the dubious operation in the bank using investor's money in an autonomous foreign exchange trading in connection with their bureau de change against the Country's financial and banking regulation.
However, I will send you a copy of the presidency final transfer application form to fill and return to enable the foreign currency transfer manager of the state treasury to transfer the aforementioned amount to your bank account, it is therefore necessary that you send your bank and copy of your ID for payment identification.
I remain,

Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Olivier Amalaman.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam