419 scam: "OFFICE"<info@lawfirm.com> Best Regards

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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)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states 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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- andychang37@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chang.andy34@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2011 03:15:46 +0100
Subject: Best Regards

Dear Friend,
My name is Mr. Andy Chang, I trained and work as an external auditor for the MayBank Malaysia. I have taken pains to find your contact through personal endeavors because a late investor who bears the same last name with you has left monies totaling a little over $10 million United States Dollars with Our Bank for the past Eight years and no next of kin has come forward all these years.

Banking regulation legislation in Malaysia demand that I notify the fiscal authorities after a statutory time period of Eight years when dormant accounts of this type are called in by the monetary regulatory bodies. The above set of facts underscores my reason of writing. I am of the settled conviction that using my insider leverage, working with you, since you have the same last Name with the Late Investor, we can secure the funds in the account for us instead of allowing it pass as unclaimed funds into the coffers of the Government of Malaysia. This exactly is why I crave your participation and cooperation.

I have seized all relevant information (legal and Banking) that will facilitate our putting you forward as the claimant/beneficiary of the funds and ultimately transfer the money to any account nominated by you. Be assured that I and my colleagues are on top of the situation all the time and there will be no risk . Needless to say, Uttermost CONFIDENTIALITY is of vital importance if we are to successfully reap the immense benefits of this transaction. I have intentionally left out the final details for now until I hear from you. To affirm your willingness and cooperation to my proposal please do so by email, stating your full name, date of birth, telephone number and fax number. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible via my private EMAIL :(andychang37@yahoo.com.hk) or call(+60176193912) and treat with absolute confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to your quick reply.

Best Regards
Andy Chang.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam