419 scam: "NEWS UPDATE" <info@obama.com> Greetings to 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:

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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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.
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.
- mrsjoanmoore111@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "NEWS UPDATE" <info@obama.com>
Reply-To: mrsjoanmoore111@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:58:12 -0600
Subject: Greetings to you,

Greetings to you,

On behalf of the Obama's Foundation, we wish to notify you
as a beneficiaryof $500,000 USD in compensation of scam victims.Do contact
HSBC
INTERNATIONAL BANK, United Kingdom Branch for
verificationand release of
your $500,000 USD that we have deposited with the HSBC
BANK,UK.

The account log on will be presented to you by the bank in
order to
accessthe funds before releasing into your nominated bank
account. You
will transfer the funds into your nominated account on-line
as the HSBC
BANK,UK will provide the necessary information to you. We
have taken care
of the costof transfer (C.O.T) and the VAT.Please if you
are willing to
accept the funds, do contact the Managing Director of the
HSBC BANK,
With the following details:

You are to fill the appropriate form
and submit to
the bank.

1. Full Name:_____________________
2. Address:_____________________
3. Nationality:___________Sex:________
4. Age:________Date of Birth:___________
5. Occupation:_____________________
6. Cell Phone:___________Fax:___________
7. State of Origin:_________Country:_______

Managing Director of the HSBC BANK,UK
Name: MRS JOAN MOORE
Private Email: mrsjoanmoore111@hotmail.com

Yours Faithfully,
Kelvin moses Co-ordinator.
OBAMA'S FOUNDATION

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam