419 scam: "MR. ANGUS OLDS"<angusolds1@hotmail.com> DEAR FRIEND

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a "Zimbabwe" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. ANGUS OLDS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <angusolds@windowslive.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:12:00 +0700
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

YOUR ASSISTANCE PLEASE
DEAR FRIEND,

I am MR. ANGUS OLDS, the only son of late MR. MARTIN OLDS who was murdered in a land dispute in ZIMBABWE.
My late father was among the few Zimbabwean rich farmers murdered in cold blood by the agent of the ruling government of President ROBERT MUGABE for his alleged support and sympathy for Zimbabwean opposition party.
Before the death of my father, he deposited the sum of Ten Million US Dollars ($10M) with a safe keeping company in Thailand when he went to purchase farm machinery, as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. The money was deposited as family valuables to avoid seizure by the security organization.

This money was for the purchase of new machinery and chemicals for the farms and the establishment of new farm. This land problem arose when President R. MUGABE introduced a new land Act, which wholly affects the white rich farmers and some few blacks farmers. This resulted to rampant killing and mob actions.

I am currently staying in Thailand as a refugee asylum seeker, I have decided to transfer this money to a your country where we can invest it. Read more stories about Mugabe's brutal acts by visiting. This website: http://www.rte.ie/news/2000/0418/zimbabwe.html

This transaction is 100% risk free.So if you are willing to assist me, I have agreed to give you 20% of the total money.
Endeavor to contact me through the below email address. I also need your private telephone for quick communication. Please this transaction is highly confidential. Expect your reply soonest.

Best regards.

MR. ANGUS OLDS.
Email: angusolds4@live.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam