419 scam: "Mr.Anah Johnson"<patlukas@live.com> Hello My Dear 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.

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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Anah Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <plukas@live.co.za>
Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:15:37 -0700
Subject: Hello My Dear Friend

>From Mr.Patrick Lukas.
Power Holding Company Of Nigeria {PHCN}
Lagos, Nigeria.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a senior accounting officer with the Power Holding Company Of Nigeria{PHCN}.My name is Mr.George Lukas.

This contact is being made with you for a serious purpose bordering on financial transaction of U.S$12.5million arising from executed over inflated contract awarded to an expertriate company by the immediate past democratic regime in 2006 for upgrading of ageing thermal stations.

Therefore,my intention in reaching out to you through this medium is to seek for your assistance/cooperation in getting the over invoiced part of the total contract fund transferred into your bank account for our mutual benefit.

I already have every arrangement relating to this transaction diligiently worked out hence you can be rest assured of 101% risk/hitch free transaction.I will oblige to giving you more details upon receipt of your favourable reply only on my private email above indicated.

While thanking in advance for your anticipated favorable response to this proposition,I remain,

Yours sincerely,

>From Mr.Patrick Lukas.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam