419 scam: "Mr Chim Gbaharam:" <chimchim177@msn.com> Read Carefully:

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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:
- "million 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)
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.
- office2contact@she.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Chim Gbaharam:" <chimchim177@msn.com>
Reply-To: <office2contact@she.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:24:02 +0000
Subject: Read Carefully:

Read Carefully:I am Mr Chim Gbaharam, 65 years old man suffering from a long time cancer of the blood. I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you, I am giving you my trust because i believe that you will be honest and take good care of my Son Junior before i die, because my condition here is very bad, and my doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond the next two months, this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage.I sold all his properties and deposited the sum of $4.9 MILLION DOLLARS in the Bank.My doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. It is my last wish to see that this money is invested in any business of your choice in the name of my only Son Junior until he became a man, 20% from the money will be for you.As soon as I receive your reply together with your contact details on this E-mail ( office2contact@she.com ) i shall tell you more, but if you find this letter offensive, please ignore it and accept my apologies.Regards,Mr Chim Gbaharam:

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam