419 scam: "Mr. Louis Castello" <consultant@123.com.sv> CLASSIFIED INFORMATION!!!

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Louis Castello" <consultant@123.com.sv>
Reply-To: lcastello@videobank.it
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:16:49 -0500
Subject: CLASSIFIED INFORMATION!!!

Attention Please,

I am Mr. Louis Castello, a financial consultant with Smith & Williamson, a
Leading independent provider of investment management, accountancy, tax,
corporate and financial advisory services to private clients, corporate,
professional practices, and non-profit organizations.

I am contacting you based on the instruction from my client who wish
to channel
some funds into real estate or communication industry. He wishes that I should
source for a reliable, honest and trusted partner to entrust his funds for the
purpose of investment. You will receive 20% of this fund for your
services upon
the successful transfer and investment of this fund. So my question to you now
is; can you receive this fund and invest for my client? It does not matter
whether you are into business or not.

REASON FOR CONTACTING YOU: He is presently having a serious legal trial at the
Southwark crown Court in London over allegations of money laundering and
embezzlement of public funds during his 8 years stewardship in government. He
once served as civilian governor in one of the Niger Delta states in Nigeria.

If you can help him receive and invest the sum of $35,000.000.00
kindly indicate
your interest by sending your contact address and bank account details for
onward processing and transfer of the fund to you as his next of kin.

Upon your acceptance of this proposal, I will provide you with his LETTER OF
AUTHORIZATION personally signed by him to protect and endorse you
officially as
his nominated next of kin. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Mr. Louis Castello.
Director,
Head of Financial services.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam