419 scam: "Michael Balfore"<test@asc.gov.tw> Contact him immediately

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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)
- "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.
- jowen340@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Balfore" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jowen340@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2015 20:43:15 -0300
Subject: Contact him immediately

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family. I hope

this mail meets you in a perfect condition. You may not understand why

this mail came to you. However, if you do not remember me, you might

have receive 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 another person

who financed it 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. However, I want to inform

you that I have successfully transferred the fund out of my bank to my

new partner's account that was capable of assisting me in this great

venture. Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness

you showed during the course of the transaction I want to compensate

you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $850,000,00. I have

left an international certified bank draft for you worth about

$850,000.00; cashable any were in the world with a Bank manager in

Athens Grecce who work with a very reputable bank Mr Michael

Balfore.Who actually helped in the conclusion of the

multi-million-dollar business in the finan

I have authorized Mr Michael Balfore to release the international

certified bank draft to you as soon as you contact him regarding this

issue. at the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment

projects which myself and my 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.contact him via Email: jowen340@yahoo.com.ph

Thanks and God bless you and your family. However, I want you to

contact him immediately as soon as you receive this because he will be

leaving soon on a very long vacation as he didnt have any vacation

for the past three years due to over time.

1. Full Names:

2. Residential Address:

3. Phone Number:

4. Fax Number:

5. Occupation:

6. Sex:

7. Age :

8. Nationality:

9. Present Country:

Yours Faithfully

Alex Silva

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam