419 scam: "Mr Peter Fisher"<library@thehardisonlawfirm.com> I Need Your Urgent Response

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Peter Fisher" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <peterfisher101@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 21:33:52 -0700
Subject: I Need Your Urgent Response

ECO BANK PLC

10B UNIPETROL ESTATE,

VICTORIA ISLAND.

LAGOS-NIGERIA

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a staff of Eco Bank Plc.I am writing following an opportunity in my office that will be of immense benefit to both of us.

In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of ?25.5million British Pounds Sterling in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers Late Mr. Morris Thompson,an American residing at 61 Fairbanks, Alaska who unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000,including his wife and only daughter.You shall read more about the crash on visiting this site.http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin /Will Beneficiary to the deceased so that this said funds can be paid to you.This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages,30% to me and 70% to you.

Please,provide me the following:

1. Full Name

2. Your Telephone Number

3. Your Contact Address

4. Your Age

5. Your Occupation

Waiting for your urgent response.

Best Regards,

Mr.Peter Fisher.

Director International Operations.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam