419 scam: "Mr.David Gurupatham" <wili.mer@neostrada.pl> Best regards

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
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.
- gurupathamd@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.David Gurupatham" <wili.mer@neostrada.pl>
Reply-To: gurupathamd@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:29:54 +0800
Subject: Best regards

Dear Friend,

I am contacting you base on mutual trust as I do not want problems but just hope you can assist me in actualizing the under mentioned project.I am in control of the sum of four million, eight hundred and fifty thous and US dollars ($4,850,000.00) which was an excess of profit made by our one of our branch Office in the Last quarter Financial Summery of last year 2009, The above mentioned amount have been carefully placed in an Escrow Deposit Account with systematize procedures without declaring it to my executives.Can I really trust you to hold this money for me until I arrive your country and pick it up myself and you deduct 30% of the total money as your commission if you accept my offer you can contact me immediately.

All I need, is you to provide me with a good current bank account where I can move this money through a laid down modalities.I will confidentially, give you all the information concerning the account and the date of deposit so that you can apply to the bank for the release of the money. There is practically no risk involved. It will be a bank-to-bank wire transfer. I hope you understand my situation.

Be rest assured that this transaction is absolutely risk free.I await your urgent response.You can mail me back on this email address: gurupathamd@yahoo.com.hk

Thank you and God bless.
Yours truly,
David Gurupatham

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam