419 scam: "Phil Covington"<barbarafritze@standrdcharted.com> Hoping to hear from you

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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- philcovington56@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Phil Covington" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <philcovington56@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 15:08:49 -0700
Subject: Hoping to hear from you

Hello,
I am Phil Covington from Poland Hardware High Performance SDR Project, I fell sick November 2009 since then I have been on medical treatment after which it was confirmed by my doctor I have cancer, I do not know if I will survive this illness, since my wife is no more and I have no kids to take over my hard earn savings, I have decided to donate my hard earn money for the work of God because it was the promise I made to God Almighty, I want to donate the sum of 6.3 Million Dollars (Six Million Three Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) to a church or better still a Christian individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here in, I want a church or a Christian individual that will use these funds to fund orphanage home help the needy and widows, including reasonable business investment to keep the long terms needs of the needy and to ensure the house of God is maintained.

Bible made us to understand givers never lack and blessed is the hand that gives, If you are a Christian and interested in what I have explain herein, respond and tell me more about your self, you will be rewarded with 10% for your effort in standing on my behalf to accomplish my wishes of helping the needy, God bless you and your family.

Mr.Phil Covington
Website: www.philcovington.com
Contact me on my personal email: philcovington56@aim.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam