419 scam: <> GOOD NEWS

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- s194@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: <>
Reply-To: <mr.thorstenhaas194@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2015 20:43:29 +0530
Subject: GOOD NEWS

Greetings, Thanks for your mail. I apologize if my message do not suit your=
current status, my name is Mr. Thorsten Haas, I am a Citizen of Germany, h=
aappily married with two kids. I contacted you because I have interest of i=
nvesting in your country in Real Estate business (ie: Hotel, Lands and Tour=
ism) as well as seek your services in a private and confidential matter bec=
ause of the rapid growth in India economy. I am a Chartered Accountant and =
Chief Auditor here in our bank. On my routine inspection I discovered a dor=
mant domiciliary account with a Balance of $5,000,000.00 USD {Five Million =
United Dollars Only}. I write to seek your indulgence and assistance in tra=
nsferring this fund to your country through legal means as repatriation of =
fund for Investment. I am proposing to make this transfer to a designated b=
ank account of your choice in your country for investment. At the conclusio=
n of this transaction, I promise to give 30% of the total amount, 70% will =
be for me and my colleagues who will help make this business a success.Kind=
ly revert me if you are interested, Please contact the Email:mr.thorstenhaa=
s194@gmail.com Let me know if you can handle it. Best Regards, Mr. Thorsten=
Haas

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam