419 scam: "From: Peterson Brose"<daniel@winwebmail.com> Dear Friend,

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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)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cashier's check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
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.
- upss133@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "From: Peterson Brose" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <deliveryups860@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:38:37 +0800
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this E-mail meets you in a
perfect condition. I am using this opportunity to thank you for your great
effort to our unfinished transfer of funds into your account due to one
reason or the other best known to you. But I want to inform you that I
have successfully transferred the fund out of my bank to someone else
account who was capable of assisting me in using the fund to establish
a charity home, for the less privileged, orphans and other indigents in the society.

Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you showed at
the course of the transaction, and in view of what you have lost during
the transaction, I want to use this opportunity to compensate YOU and
show my gratitude to you with the sum of US$850,000.00 (Eight Hundred
and Fifty Thousand United States Dollar`s) And I have authorized the
Wells Fargo Bank, in Unites states, where I deposited my money, To draft
an international Cashier's Check, for YOU, worth US$850,000.00 cashable
anywhere in the world and has be issue in your favor, as a Compensation
from me to YOU.
My dear friend I will like you to contact the [UPS DELIVERY SERVICE] for the
collection of this international Certified Cashier's check, to you, And I have
authorized to release the bank draft to you as soon as you Re-confirm Your:-

(1) Full Name:
(2) Contact Number:
(3) Current Country and Address:

Please; Don`t forget to send him Your delivery information to enable the UPS
deliver the check to your door step.

UPS Deliver officer
Contact Person: Mr. Peter Fisher Chris
Email Address: upss133@gmail.com

At these moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment projects
which myself and my new partner are having at hand.
Please; I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is
from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon.

Best Regards,
Mr. Peterson Brose

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam