419 scam: Steven Buck <testing@act.cl> Hello Good Day,

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million pounds" (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)
- ",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)
- "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
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.
- stevenbuck241@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Steven Buck <testing@act.cl>
Reply-To: <stevenbuck241@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2017 09:50:18 +0200
Subject: Hello Good Day,

BG Group plc
Thames Valley Park,
Reading,
Berkshire,
RG6 1PT
United Kingdom

Dear Sir/Madam,

It is with trust and confidence that I write this urgent business assistance to you. I am a principal staff with Oil & Gas Company {BG GROUP} in United Kingdom .I have been assigned by two of my colleagues to seek for a trust worthy foreign partner who will assist us in the transfer of the sum of GBP12,000,000.00(Twelve Million Pounds) only into a safe foreign account pending on our arrival in your country for sharing and utilization of the fund with the owner of the account.

On the 20th of January 2014 our corporation, the British gas plc (bggroup), awarded a contract of gbp168, 000, 000, 00 (one hundred and sixty eight million pounds) only, to a foreign firm for the supply of some equipment valued gbp156, 000, 000, 00 (one hundred and fifty six million pounds) only. But I and my colleagues being members of the contract awarding committee over-inflated the contract to the tune of gbp168,000,000.00 (one hundred and sixty eight million pounds) only,with the intention of sharing the remaining balance 12,000,000.00(Twelve million pounds) only among ourselves.

The contract has been successfully executed and the actual contractors had been paid their gbp156,000,000.00 (one hundred and fifty six million pounds) in full leaving a balance of gbp12,000,000.00 which wenow want to transfer out of the country in our favor for disbursement among ourselves. Meanwhile I and two of my colleagues have agreed that if you/your company can act as the beneficiary of this fund ou will retain 30% of the total fund, for the assistance rendered, while we would retain 60% of the total and the balance of 10% of the total fund will be set aside for the off-setting of all expenses that might be incurred by both parties during the fund transfer process. We are requesting you to co-operate with us and provide a convenient account number in a designated bank where this fund can be safely
transferred;we intend to come over there on the completion of the fund transfer to secure our own share of the fund.

Please, note that we have been careful and have worked out all the modalities for a smooth transfer of this fund to your chosen designated account before contacting you .We would therefore not want you to expose this proposal to any body for the purpose of security and its confidential nature. Please be rest assured that this
transaction is 100% risk-free. If this proposal is acceptable by you,please contact me through my personal e-mail address for further information on this transaction. Note that the particular nature of your companys business is irrelevant to this transaction.Note that your favorable reply is urgently needed. This information is highly confidential and urgent.You can reply me through this Email Address: stevenbuck241@gmail.com

Best regards
Steven Buck
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director.BG Group plc

Anti-fraud resources:

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