419 scam: "Mr.Tony Ngomi"<user1@westcom.net.ua> Hello:Dear friend

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Tony Ngomi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tony.ngomi@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2011 13:02:23 -0500
Subject: Hello:Dear friend

I am Mr.Tony, Manager of a Bank in South Africa. I have urgent and very
confidential business proposition for you.

I am direct access to Ben Ali wife Leila Trabelsi`s funds here in South
Africa. The sum of US$28,000,000.00 ,She did not declare any next of kin or
relations in all her official documents, including her Bank Deposit
paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$28,000,000.00 is still sitting in my
Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end
of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.

I will also disclose the position of the funds to you after you have
understand my plight and willing to work things out with me. I will want you
to visit this site to understand the whole picture before getting back to
me.

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7944216-coup-in-tunisia-33-family-members-expresident-arrested
.

My need is simple and direct. If you can take my funds into your country
confidentially and assist me to leave my present position and get into your
country without problems, I will pay you any agreed fee or percentage from
my funds for your assistance. If you wish not to be part of this please
delete this email and pretend I never contacted you for this.

Please send me an mail with further information about yourself before we
proceed further. Awaiting your urgent reply via my email.

Thanks and regards.

Mr.Tony.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam