419 scam: "Mr. Davies Malone" <ofuoba3@yahoo.com> To Whom It May Concern

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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:
- "transfer cost" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- davies_malone@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Davies Malone" <ofuoba3@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. Davies Malone" <davies_malone@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 11:59:52 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: To Whom It May Concern

The Corporate Headquarters,
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, California
Foreign Exchange and Transfer Department
Telephone: +1 323 250 4077
Email: davies_malone@yahoo.co.uk

To Whom It May Concern

Re: Your Funds Transfer/Did You Authorize Mrs. Helen Diana?

Your representative Mrs. Helen Diana was in the Bank today, As a matter of fact we were going to work according to your instruction since she is ready to pay the $1500 on your behalf for the transfer charges, but why we need you to respond back before we release your scam victim compensation of US$1,100,000.00 Dollars to her nominated Malaysia Bank account, but we deemed it necessary to reach you before we proceed to release the funds to her new submitted bank account at your bequest.

Find the Bank Account Information she submitted for the transfer to be effected within 5 working days.

HSBC BANK MALAYSIA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER 29876539876
Swift Code HSBC041
ACCOUNT HOLDER: Helen Diana

Please confirm this to enable us reconcile the transfer in her favour as soon as practicable, as she has confirmed that you gave her US$1500 transfer cost to pay on your behalf.

We await your immediate response via email and telephone

Faithfully,

Mr. Davies Malone

Telephone: +1 323 250 4077
Head, Foreign Exchange and Transfer Department
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, California - USA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam