419 scam: "Walter Smith" <walter_smith18walterwalter@aol.fr> Attn: Consignee,

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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447053831885 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Walter Smith" <walter_smith18walterwalter@aol.fr>
Reply-To: waltersmith177@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 14:52:14 +0100
Subject: Attn: Consignee,

- This mail is in HTML. Some elements may be ommited in plain text. -

Foreign Reserve Department,
10 Downing Street,
London, SW1A 2AA
London UK.
TEL: 44 705 383 1885
Attn: Consignee,
Thanks a lot for your email your details were well received, Please note that because of the so called internet hackers it will be difficult to release the approved $10.7million via bank to bank wire transfer as such for security reasons we resorted to converting your payment through "CASH DELIVERY" And we have an agreement with a courier agent that have accepted in principles to move the fund to America so the cash will be sealed, packaged in a consignment and it will delivered directly to your designated address.
Thus because of the volume of fund that is involved and for obvious security reasons we will not even allow the courier agent to know the content in the box as such we will declare the content as family treasure/valuables
Please let me hear from you so that i can forward your information to the courier agent that will enable him program your details in his computer data base for the delivery and an airway bill shipment document will be issued in your name which will be a proof that you are the bonafide beneficiary of the consignment/fund upon your face to face meeting with the courier agent in America.
PLEASE TREAT AS URGENT
Walter Smith
Foreign Debt Settlement Committee, UK
TEL: 44 705 383 1885

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam