419 scam: "Mr.charles Ezeh" <mr.charlesezeh03@yahoo.com.ph> Attn ...........Please,

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "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)
- ",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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
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.
- dr_charlesezeh@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.charles Ezeh" <mr.charlesezeh03@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: "Mr.charles Ezeh" <dr_charlesezeh@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:10:46 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Attn ...........Please,

From the Desk of Mr. Charles
Eze.
Director international
Remittance
Central Bank of Nigeria.
dr_charlesezeh@yahoo.com

Attn ...........Please,

I am very glad I have found
you, how is your family today I would like you to listen to what I have to say
to you I am Mr. Charles Eze, the personal account officer to Engineer EVANS, a
national of your country, possibly could be your brother, who used to work with
ASHANTI GOLDFIELDS CO. LTD. late Engineer EVANS, who died along with his entire
family on 31 July 2000 in a plane crash. The fund for transfer is of clean
origin. You can confirm the genuineness of the deceased death by clicking on
this web site. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Unfortunately, Engineer
EVANS, and his family lost their lives. Since then I have made several
inquiries to your embassy here in Nigeria to locate any of Engineer
EVANS extended relatives. This has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to
locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to
assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by Engineer EVANS
before they get it confiscated, frozen or declared it unserviceable by the bank
where these
Huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the central
bank of Nigeria
where the deceased had an account valued at about Twenty Seven Million United
States Dollars (US$27,000,000:00). The management has issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin or have the account frozen within the next ten official
working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over
1 year now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account
valued at $27,000,000:00 can be paid to you and then you and me can share the
money. 60% for me and 30% for you and 10% for expenses for both parties.

I have all the necessary
legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. And these I
must do to make sure that this fund is not wasted or end up in the wrong hands.
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this business
through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you and i from any breach of the law.

Note that you are to furnish
me with the requested information's bellow immediately;
(1)Full names.
(2)Contact address.
(3)Telephone and fax numbers.
(4)Location.
(5)A valid copy of any of
your identification.

Thanks and regards,
Waiting for your urgent
response,
Mr. Charles Eze.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam