419 scam: "Alva Ellis" <kslau@centuryleather.com> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

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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:
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your payment is being processed" (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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- donnmiiginis@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Alva Ellis" <kslau@centuryleather.com>
Reply-To: alvaaellis@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 07:44:41 +0000
Subject: CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

DR. DON MIGINIS

DEPUTY GOVERNOR,

INTERNATIONAL OPERATION DEPT.

DEAR BENEFICIARY,

VERIFICATION OF YOUR PAYMENT FILE.

FROM THE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING CONTRACTORS, NEXT OF KIN FUNDS AND LOTTERY FUNDS DUE FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM, YOUR NAME/PARTICULARS WAS DISCOVERED AS NEXT ON THE LIST OF THE OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENTS.

I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR PAYMENT IS BEING PROCESSED AND WILL BE RELEASED TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU RESPOND TO THIS LETTER. ALSO NOTE THAT FROM THE RECORD IN MY FILE YOUR OUTSTANDING PART PAYMENT IS US $2, 100,000.00 (TWO MILLION ONE HUNDREDTHOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS).

KINDLY RE-CONFIRM TO ME THE FOLLOWINGS:

1) YOUR FULL NAME.

2) YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS

3) PHONE, FAX AND MOBILE #.

4) COMPANY NAME, POSITION AND ADDRESS.

5) PROFESSION, AGE AND MARITAL STATUS.

AS SOON AS THIS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE MADE TO YOU IN A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OR WIRED TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT DIRECTLY FROM OUR CALIFORNIA PAYMENT CENTER (BANK OF AMERICA U.S.A). YOU CAN MAIL ME ON MY DIRECT MAIL ADDRESS AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MEMO FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

REGARDS,

DON MIGINIS

donnmiiginis@gmail.com (Please all replies to this email address)

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This E-Mail is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this communication in error, please do not distribute and delete the original message. Please notify the sender by E-Mail at the address shown. Thank you for your compliance.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam