419 scam: "A. W. ALFONSO & ASOCIADO"<econ@msn.com> HOPE TO REACH YOU THIS TIMECK, POOR AND NEEDY CHILDPŒë¸"

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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +34688292754 (Spain, 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.
- guti_vanesa3@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "A. W. ALFONSO & ASOCIADO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <guti_vanesa3@sify.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:16:30 +0100
Subject: HOPE TO REACH YOU THIS TIME

NOTICE OF BEQUEST

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of
Late Engr. Luis Eduardo, I once again try to notify you
as my earlier letter returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again
by this same email address on the WILL.

I wish to notify you that Late Engr. Luis Eduardo made
you a beneficiary to his WILL.He left the sum of Twenty two million five hundred
thousand United States Dollars ($22,500.000.00USD)to you in the codicil and
last testament to his WILL.

This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true. Being a widely
travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply
you were recommended to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good.

Engr. Luis Eduardo until his death was a member of the
Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He had a very
good heart and was a philanthropist. His great philanthropy earned him numerous
awards during his life time.

Late Engr. Luis Eduardo died on the 13th day of January 2008,
at the age of 80 years, and his WILL is now ready for execution. According to him
this money is to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor
and the needy in our society.

Please if I reach you this time as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon
as possible to enable me conclude my job.

I hope to hear from you in no distant time through the email address or phone number below.

Email: guti_vanesa3@sify.com
Phone: +34 688 292 754

Yours in Service,
Vanesa Guti (Mrs)
Secretary To-
Alexandrus Alfonso.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam