419 scam: "Steve A. Crabbe" <informatica@vape.net> Hi, Friend.

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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.

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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:
- "a security company " (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. )
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Steve A. Crabbe" <informatica@vape.net>
Reply-To: <crabbestevea@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2018 02:35:57 -0800
Subject: Hi, Friend.

My name is Steve A Crabbe of Crabbe law Chambers, I am contacting you in regards to a deceased client Eng. Nick B.Kennedy who was a contractor with AngloGold Ashanti Ghana. On June 2014; my client was involved in an auto accident in Odumasi close to Konongo on the Kumasi-Accra road, Before his death, my client had 1,200kg of raw golds with a Security company here in Ghana, claims of this nature can only be made by a relative member. Unfortunately, he had no will at the time of death. All efforts made through some Private Investigators have revealed no link to any of his family member. I am under pressure to present the next of kin who will claim the Golds, and failure to do this would legally allow the company to report the golds to the Ghana Treasury as unclaimed. It is, therefore, my intention to introduce you as the next of kin to the company, If you are interested, get back to me Immediately for more details.

I hope to hear back from you.

Regards,

Steve A Crabbe (esq)

Consultant

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam