419 scam: "David Thomas"<david.thomas263@yahoo.com> YOUR ATTENTION IS REQUIRED ON THIS MATTER

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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:
- ",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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "David Thomas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <davidthomas20204@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2014 13:57:17 +0200
Subject: YOUR ATTENTION IS REQUIRED ON THIS MATTER

YOUR ATTENTION IS REQUIRED ON THIS MATTER

Dear Sir,

I am writing to notify you that I need your consent with respect to payment of US$16,500,000.00 in (SCB)
Standard Chartered Bank Accra Ghana belonging to a deceased customer whose name is not stated in
this mail for reasons of privacy. My last check on Investor's deposits revealed an in active account with
the above stated amount belonging to a deceased customer.

The records for this deposit showed no beneficiary in the event of death of the depositor. I want you to act
as the beneficiary of the funds and I would like to meet you face to face for verbal discussion, there is no
risk involves, note that the money is going to be shared between me and you, I am going to offer you 30%
of the total sums why 60% will be for me and the 10% will be set aside for the remittance.

For further inquiries/interest in this claim, send to me immediately your full name as they are in your driver's
license or international passport, your mobile telephone number, your fax number if confidential and your
contact address for the legal documentations of this claim. In receipt of your positive response,
I will update you with the entire legal requirement for this claim.

Yours faithfully

David Thomas

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam