419 scam: Mark Smith <bankamerica493@gmail.com> My Greetings to you,

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
- praskashjan@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mark Smith <bankamerica493@gmail.com>
Reply-To: praskashjan@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2014 04:59:55 -0700
Subject: My Greetings to you,

My Greetings to you,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family. You may
not understand why this mail came to you but if you do not remember
me, you might have received an email from me in the past regarding a
multi-million-dollar business proposal which we never concluded.

I am using this opportunity to inform you that this
multi-million-dollar business has been concluded with the assistance
of another partner from France who financed the transaction to a
logical conclusion. I thank you for your great effort to our
unfinished transfer of fund into your account due to one reason or the
other best known to you. I want to inform you that I have successfully
transferred the fund out of my bank to my new partner's account in
France that was capable of assisting me in this great venture. Due to
your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed during
the course of the transaction.

I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of
$800,000 Dollars I will like you to contact Mr.Prakash Jan on his
direct email address at: praskashjan@gmail.com for collection of your
$800,000 Dollars . I authorized him to release the $800,000 Dollars to
you as soon as possible you contact him.

At the moment, I'm very busy in France because of the investment
projects, which I and the new partner are having at hand. Please I
will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the
bottom of my heart, also comply with Mr.Prakash Jan directives so that
he can send the $800,000 Dollars to you without any delay.

Therefore, you should kindly send him your FULL NAME, TELEPHONE NUMBER
and your CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS where you want him to send the
$800,000 Dollars to you.

Thanks!
Mark Smith

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam