419 scam: ATTENTION PLEASE REPLY BACK

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",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)
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.
- aas.008@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: ATTENTION
Reply-To: <thorshaas.008@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2015 04:03:32 +0530
Subject: PLEASE REPLY BACK

Dear Sir/Madam
Thanks for your mail. I apologize if my message do not suit your current s=
tatus, my name is Mr. Thorsten Haas, I am a Citizen of Germany, happily mar=
ried with two kids. I contacted you because I have interest of investing in=
your country in Real Estate business (ie: Hotel, Lands and Tourism) as wel=
l as seek your services in a private and confidential matter because of the=
rapid growth in your country economy. I am a Chartered Accountant and Chie=
f Auditor here in our bank. On my routine inspection I discovered a dormant=
domiciliary account with a balance of $5,000,000.00 USD {Five Million Unit=
ed Dollars Only}.
I write to seek your indulgence and assistance in transferring this fund t=
o your country through legal means as repatriation of fund for
Investment. I am proposing to make this trans,transfer to a designated bank=
account of your choice in your country for investment. At the
conclusion of this transaction, =

I promise to give 30% of the total amount, 70% will be for me and my colle=
agues who will help make this
business a success
Willing to proceed? Kindly send your response to my email address - thorsh=
aas.008@gmail.com
Best Regards,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam