419 scam: "Peter Simons"<backup@BernaVrt04.hotelberna.it> Re:Proposal

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
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.
- petersimons8@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- mapped out, it is legal and confidential. contact me on petersimons8@aol.com or petersimons@usa.com for more details. regards, peter (Aol; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Peter Simons" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <petersimons8@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 03:49:23 +0800
Subject: Re:Proposal

Dear Friend,

Do not despair at my sudden contact, there is a business proposal that i want to initiate with you, and am sure you can handle this proposal with a serious mind, as it requires utmost urgency and attention. I am Peter Simons, Senior Audit Officer under the City of New York Office of the Comptroller and as a matter of fact i have chosen to contact you to draw your attention to this beneficial matter.

In other words, Am contacting you in a benevolent spirit; utmost confidence and trust to provide an account as solution to money transfer of a huge amount of fund (amount undisclosed), all modalities has been mapped out, it is legal and confidential.

Contact me on petersimons8@aol.com or petersimons@usa.com for more details.

Regards,
Peter Simons

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam