419 scam: "DESMOND"<d_eyade3@live.com> I NEED YOUR HELP.

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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:
- "a security company " (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. )
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "consignment " (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: "DESMOND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <desmondyyeya@live.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:16:47 -0800
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP.

Good Day,

Happy new year to you and your entire family, I hope you all are fine and healthy, may the peace of Almighty God be with you all.

I want to use this opportunity to introduce myself well to you, I am Desmond Eyadema,The son of the Former late President of Togo, I am writing you in respect of my consignment box in the United States of America, which I want you to assist me and my Mother to stand for us as our foreign beneficiary to receive the fund over there in there in the United States of America, this fund am writing you about is $12.5 million U.S.Dollars which my late father deposited under a Security Company for I and my mother, and Mr. Johnson Ascot who was suppose to receive this consignment in the United States Was demanding for 50% which I and my mother did not agree on for any reason, that was why we have to stop the delivery to him immediately, and search for another Beneficiary who can help us on this.

I know very that this mail may come to you as a surprise base on the fact that, we have not met. And apart from that, even with the fraudulent activities that is going on around the world today.Nobody know who is right or whom to trust.

But I must tell you one thing, I have not come to entice you with the words of men. It is only God that knows the heart of every human. All I want from you is honesty.

I and my mother are willy to give you 20% for your assistance, because that was the former agreement we had with our former partner. Mr. Johnson Ascot before he later change is mind because of his greed that is why I and my mother put a stop to the delivery to him , please if you are willing to help assist us, kindly reply me for more details.

Stay Bless.

Yours Sincerely,
Desmond Eyadema.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam