419 scam: "Mr. Brian Smith" <test@test.com> From Desk Of Mr. Brian Smith

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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million 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)
- ",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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Brian Smith" <test@test.com>
Reply-To: <brian_smith1@foxmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2018 15:33:47 +0200
Subject: From Desk Of Mr. Brian Smith

From Desk Of Mr. Brian Smith

Honourable USA Secretary of State and

Chairman Refund Payment Committee

Federal Executive Council Washington DC USA

Good Day,

This letter is written in order to change your Life from today. Please note that this letter came to you as a result of information received from our monitoring network regarding so much payments which you sent through Western Union and Money Gram to Europe, USA, Asia and Africa and some other part of the World without receiving any payment to your name, further investigation reveals that you have lost hope towards receiving your payment after being deceived so many times.

Following the on going re-branding of USA policies, the Federal Government of USA have directed our committee to compensate/refund the sum of $6,500,000 to you through payment by ATM CARD being one of the most convenient means of receiving payment World Wide, Bank to Bank Transfer or CASH Delivery to your Country. We wish to inform you that the members of Refund Payment Committee are honourable men of Great Repute and integrity who have served the Government of USA in different capacities,

we also wish to inform you that the Committee members were appointed by our respected President Donald Trump to pay 250 million Dollars to the listed beneficiaries that have lost their money to the scammer and have not yet receive their total sum.

In order for you to receive your payment this week, you are advice to reply this email to with ANSWERS to the Questions below.

Your Full Name

Your Contact Address

Your Direct telephone. Fax Number ( if any)

Your AGE and what you do for a living

How Many Months Or Years in which You Have Been Expecting your Payment

The Place you sent Money Last whether Nigeria or London etc

The Last Amount of Money You sent indicating What Month and Year

From Mr. Brian Smith

Honourable USA Secretary of State

Chairman Refund Payment Committee

Federal Executive Council Washington DC USA

The University of Huddersfield has been declared the winner of the HEA’s inaugural Global Teaching Excellence Award (GTEA).
Find out more about the fantastic winner and details on how to enter GTEA 2018

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam