419 scam: "Mr Stephen"<mbernard@frsfco.utn.edu.ar> How are you?.

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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:
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "very 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)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- mrstephenmensahgh@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <mrstephenmensahgh@foxmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2017 20:57:56 +0700
Subject: How are you?.

I have sent you this message earlier, but your failure to respond has prompted me to re-sending it once again.

Good day, I want to apologies for contacting you without your knowledge, before I proceed further my Name is Mr Stephen from Togo,

I am the Chairman Contract Awarding Committee of the Economic of West African States Ecowas here in Lome, Togo.

I got your contact through Network on line in my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential transaction that involves a transfer of fund to a foreign account and I decided to write you. After discussing my view and your profile with my colleagues, they were very much satisfied and decided to contact you immediately for this mutual business relationship. We wish to transfer the sum of USD 36m (thirty-six Million United States Dollars only.) into your personal or company`s bank account.

This fund was a residue of the over invoiced contract bills awarded by us for the supply of hard/software,pharmaceuticals/medical items,light and heavy duty vehicles, apparels and other administrative logistics etc for the ECOMOG in Sierra-Leone and Liberia during the Peace Keeping Projects.

Kindly send me an E-mail through my private E-mail Address: mrstephenmensahgh@gmail.com for more details on this successful transactions.

Best regards,

Mr Stephen.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam