419 scam: "Mr.Gerald Smith" <gerald

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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 us 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Gerald Smith" <gerald_s11@yahoo.es>
Reply-To: geralds_smith@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 04:25:00 +0300 (EAT)
Subject: Reply

Dear Sir,

It is my pleasure to contact you as to discuss this transaction with you;
I will want to have your trust and to go into partnership investment with
you or your company which must be built on confidentiality between us. I
am the Contract Award Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation {NNPC}, my office is in-charge of awarding contract to
contractors, for Oil pipeline maintenance, building and handling of
government contracts throughout the Country and overseas.

I am in position to transfer the sum of (ONE HUNDRED MILLION US DOLLARS
ONLY)which I have written a memo informing the government that this fund
belongs to a contractor waiting to be paid its contract sum; I want to
invest this fund into your company.

We are transferring this fund to you as Over-Invoiced from Nigeria to your
country. The fund will be shared on the ratio of 60-40%; 40% for you on
the assistance rendered please. Note that this fund will not be
investigated or recalled in the near future as all documents to move this
fund to your account will be legally obtained.

You are to send me your company name and address with your bank details
where you want the fund to be transferred. As soon as you agree, I will
send the details of the transfer to you and my number to reach me. I want
you to keep this private to yourself.

Be assured that this is a legitimate fund and will be transferred
legitimately. As soon as I hear from you, I will send the details of the
transfer to you from the NNPC official website to prove myself and Office
and will also send you my Official ID.

Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.

Sincerely,

Mr. Gerald Smith

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam