419 scam: "Keith Matthews." <gerryvm@bellsouth.net> ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MAIL,

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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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- keithmatthews.02@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Keith Matthews." <gerryvm@bellsouth.net>
Reply-To: keithmatthews.02@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:08:09 -0800 (PST)
Subject: ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MAIL,

My Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Keith Matthews. I am the regional manager of Standard
Chartered Bank of Ghana Tarkwa branch in the western region of Ghana .
I
came to know you in my Private Search for a reliable, and reputable
person to handle this confidential transaction. I write you this
proposal in good faith. I have packaged a financial transaction that
will benefit you and me, as the regional manager of the Standard
Chartered Bank, it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head
office in the capital city Accra at the end of each business year. On
the course of 2009 business report, I discovered that my branch in which
I am the manager made Eight million eight hundred and fifty thousand
united state dollars ($8,850,000.00)which my head office is not aware of
and will never be aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call
escrow call account with no beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I
cannot be directly connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you
is to assist me !receive this money in your bank account.

(1)Full Names/Address

(2)Contact Telephone number

(3)Scanned Copy Of Photo Page Of Either Your Driving License Or
International passport

will appreciate it very much, If this proposal is acceptable by you, do
not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed on you, and I
assure you we can achieve it successfully. Thank you in advance and May
God bless you and your family.

Thanks

Keith Matthews.
EMAIL:keithmatthews.02@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam