419 scam: "Mr.Panayotis N. Varangis" <info@Varangis.com> Please Reply

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- pana_varangis03@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Panayotis N. Varangis" <info@Varangis.com>
Reply-To: pana_varangis03@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:12:18 -0300
Subject: Please Reply

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr.Panayotis N. Varangis, 45 years old from Kifisia ,Athens,Greece.Head Financial Control & internal audit
department, ATE Bank of Greece .I am divorced, have 3 kids living with me at home. I'm 5'11 tall.I love animals. I have
2 dogs and 3 cats. I love to travel. I love the outdoors,swimming,riding,skeet shooting,etc..I have a healthy and
active social life.

I have been the head of depository division in my bank head office, but last July, I was asked to take position of the
Head Financial Control & internal audit department of our branch in Glyfada, Athens. so that was how I became the
present Head Financial Control & internal audit department .By virtue of my position as the Head Financial Control &
internal audit department, I write to seek your assistance in a profiting offer.

In order to proceed, I require your full names, contact address,occupation and telephone/fax numbers so we can go over
the details of this profiting offer which when its starts to unfold you will have course to smile. Kindly reply this
mail as soon as possible to indicate your willingness and interest.

I await your urgent response.

My private email is (pana_varangis03@yahoo.com.hk)

Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Mr.Panayotis N. Varangis.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam