419 scam: "Mr. Valentine Smith."<valsmith942@yahoo.co.uk> Mr. Valentine 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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "top secret" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Valentine Smith." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <valatine_s@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:50:30 +0100
Subject: Mr. Valentine Smith.

Hello Partner,

I am Mr. Mr. Valentine Smith, the head of Fund Transfers Department of Intelligent investment bank in UK. I am contacting you in lieu of a top secret business worth £6 million, organised and ready for transfer into a trustworthy beneficiary's account in South Africa.

Miss Linda has guaranteed that you will deliver effectively without hitches and I will urge you to stay affiliated with me so we can pull this deal through.

I will need the following information from you to necessitate the transfer in our database.

1. Your full names

2. Your address ( residential or office)

3. Your bank account details

4. Your identification material ( drivers licence or international passport)

At receipt of the aforementioned requirements, I will insert your name as the sole beneficiary of the funds.

I await your urgent response and questions if you have any.

Mr. Valentine Smith.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam