419 scam: "Mr.Otunfo Anan." <charlesssnemeth2@att.net> Best Regards To You.

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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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Otunfo Anan." <charlesssnemeth2@att.net>
Reply-To: <otunfoanan10@att.net>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 15:42:45 +0430
Subject: Best Regards To You.

Best Regards To You.

I am writing to solicit your assistance in the transfer of US$18,500,000.00 (Eighteen Million Five Hundred United State Dollars)This fund is an over invoiced contract fund.I have in my own magnanimity and for your kind assistance agreed that 35% of this money will be for you as a foreign partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account, and 65% would be for me.

I have since, placed this amount of US$18,500,000.00 Dollars on an Escrow Coded account without a beneficiary (Anonymous) . As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive this money into your bank account on my behalf.

I also wish to use this golden opportunity to inform you that this transaction is risk free, and there is no violation of any state or international law in this transfer and also the bedrock of this business is trust, commitment, prompt reply of message and confidentiality.

If you are interested to assist on this venture kindly contact me back with your direct phone number and Email Address for a brief and oral discussion on how to proceed or call me

NB:Please I would like you to keep this proposal as a top secret and delete it if you are not interested.

Best regards,
Mr.Otunfo Anan.
Phone: +233-545-372-955 or 00233-545-372-955

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam