419 scam: "Mr.Venkatesh Srikantan"<no-reply@dubai.com> TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Venkatesh Srikantan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <venktan0@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2017 21:49:36 -0700
Subject: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Dear Friend.

I sincerely do not wish to inconvenience you with my letter for I have an urgent matter I wish to discuss with you which will benefit you and I. For introduction, I

Am.Mr.Venkatesh Srikantan,A Bank Officer here in Dubai. I am having an important business discussion, I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you, because it is in connection with your last name and you are going to benefit from it. A customer and client of our bank had a fixed deposit with our bank for 96 calendar months, valued at US$15,500,000.00 (Fifteen million Five Hundred United State Dollars) the due date for this deposit contract was last 22nd of January 2016. Sadly, he was among the death victims of plane crash, Last week my Bank Management requested that i should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract. My bank management is yet to know about his death. I knew about it because he was my friend and I was his account officer prior to his death.

If my Bank Directors happens to know that he is dead and do not have any Heir, they will take the funds for their personal use which I will not want such to happen because the money has been in my care until date. I am now seeking your co- operation to present you as Next of Kin/ Heir to the account, since you have the same last name with him and my bank headquarters will release the account to you. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds equal, 50/50% to both parties, my share will assist me to start my own company which has been my dream.

Kindly reply to enable me send you the complete details about this business deal. I look forward to your prompt reply.

Respectfully.

Mr.Venkatesh Srikantan,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam