419 scam: "Al Ansari"<ahmed@ahmed.com> BEST REGARDS,

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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:
- "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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- ala085973@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Al Ansari" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <al.ansar@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2018 08:51:34 -0700
Subject: BEST REGARDS,

Greetings to you;

Let me start by introducing myself, I am Al Ansari, the Branch Manager of National Bank of Abu Dhabi. I write you because of a mutually beneficial business proposition which involves money in my bank.

Twelve Million Dollars (12.M USD) belonging to a customer who is now deceased may be forfeited to the Treasury Account of the government if no one claims it. This is because the original owner of the money did not indicate nor appoint any next of kin at the time the money was deposited into our bank. It is therefore my plan to partner with you in order to stand as the next of kin to Thomas Stone so that the money can be now transferred over to your account, and we will afterwards share the money at the ratio of 60-40.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the Legal Attorney of our bank. If you are interested, please kindly reply to this email immediately. Upon receiving your response, I shall provide you with details of the transaction. Also I wish for you to please observe utmost confidentiality over this proposal.

Your earliest response to this email would be greatly appreciated, kindly reply to my private email: ala085973@gmail.com

Regards,

Al Ansari.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam