419 scam: "smith"<mensah_smithss@rediffmail.com> AU METAL(GOLD)/GOLD DUST FOR SALES=

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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:
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
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.
- mensah_smithss@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mensah_smithss@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:44:21 +0100
Subject: AU METAL(GOLD)/GOLD DUST FOR SALES=

DEAR SIR,

WE ARE GOLD MINERS IN GHANA, WEST AFRICA
HERE IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER:

1.PRODUCT: AU METAL(GOLD)/GOLD DUST
2.ORIGIN: GHANA,WEST AFRICA..
3.TYPE: ALLUVIAL DUST (GOLD).
4.PURITY: 22+ KARAT, OR 93%.
5. PRICE: $18,000USD
6, QUANTITY: 250KILOS

WE WISH INTERESTED BUYERS LIKE YOU TO COME WITH YOUR CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE AS NO UPFRONT PAYMENT IS NEEDED FOR US TO START OFF BUSINESS WITH YOU.

UPON YOUR CONFIRMATION OF INTEREST, WE WOULD SEND A DETAILED FCO TO YOU, PREFERABLY VIA YOUR FAX NUMBER OR YOU EMAIL ADDRESS.

AN URGENT RESPONSE WOULD BE APPRECIATED AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME BACK THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS AT mensah_smithss@yahoo.com.hk IN THE EVENT YOU DO NOT BUY GOLD,BE KIND ENOUGH TO FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO A GOLD BUYER.AS OUR AGENT,WE ARE READY TO GIVE 7 TO 10% COMMISSION OF THE TOTAL PURCHASE,IF YOU CAN CONNECT US TO A GOLD BUYER

NOTE THAT BUYER MUST THEREFORE COME DOWN TO GHANA TO HAVE THOROUGH DISCUSSION AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGH PURCHASE CONTRACT OF AT LIST ONE YEAR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO COMMIT TWO PARTIES FOR LANTERN BUSINESS TRANSACTION.WE ANTICIPATE A CORDIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU AND A LONG TERM BUSINESS TRANSACTION

MR SMITH MENSAH

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam