419 scam: "James Collins"<jamses65@gmail.com> CONFIDENTIAL

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "James Collins" (may be fake)
Reply-To: < jamses65@libero.it>
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2012 04:25:27 -0800
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Sir/Madam,

I understand that receiving my email would come to you like a surprise because you do not know me.I am Mr James Collins, i formerly work with an OIL MERCHANT COMPANY IN LIBYA, PACKAGING AND COURIER DEPARTMENT OF CRUDE OIL PRODUCT TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

I got your contact through country short listed directory,i want you to help me clear this package that is already in oversea which i shipped through our CBN ACCREDITED COURIER AGENT but the contents of the package is $20,000,000.00 all in $100.00 bills,but the COURIER COMPANY doses not know that it is money that i have in the package.

All i want you to do for me now is this give me your full name,mailing address your private phone and fax number, i hope that at the end of the day , you will have 30% and 70% will be for me .

My identity must not be revealed to anybody. If this arrangement is okay by you,you can indicate your interest by replying to my e-mail for security reasons. other modalities will be discussed as soon as you get back to me including sending of the keys to the boxes to you .

Note: Communication should be strictly through e-mail for security reasons.

Yours Faithfully,
James Collins

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam