419 scam: "Mrs. Sharon Smith"<lenny3290@aol.com> Please reply for your ... BANK DRAFT PACKAGE.

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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348090911967 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- dandersen@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Sharon Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aduke@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 13:22:20 -0700
Subject: Please reply for your ... BANK DRAFT PACKAGE.

Greetings,

I have been waiting for you to contact me for collection of your payment (Certified Bank Draft) of US$850,000.00 United States dollars(EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) issued to you by the Federal Minsitry of Finance but I did not hear from you since all this while.

Then I went and deposited the Bank Draft with FEDEX COURIER SERVICE, West Africa, I traveled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not come back till end of my course. What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date.

For your information, I have paid the Cost of delivery and Insurance premium of the draft package. You are required to pay only the Security Keeping fee of ( $85 ) to them to receive your bank draft immediately.

Contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your Draft with this information below:

Contact Agent: Mr. David Andersen
Status: Regional Dispatch Agent
Email Address: dandersen@sify.com
Telephone: +234-809-091-1967

Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your:

1. Full Names:
2. Residential Address:
3. Phone Number:

To them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package overthere and know when it will get to your address.

You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Bank Draft.

Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Sharon Smith.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam