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.
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:
"i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
"utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
mrsagnespeter@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Agnes Peter <mrsagnespeter@cantv.net> Reply-To: mrsagnespeter@gmail.com Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 11:20:30 -0430 (VET) Subject: Re:VERY IMPORTANT
Re:VERY IMPORTANT
PLEASE WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF A MAN THAT GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
The greatest mountain in life is personal ignorance. Small minds are the first to condemn great ideas. I have always known that the kind of people that always fail in life are people that listen to everybody. Your mind set should determine your life setting. Success is a product of idea. As an educated person, you should listen to your conscience; it is the key to real success and stop following public opinion which is capable of ruining your future.
Winners always see the strength of God in battles but losers see the stature of men. Do you know that a man’s greatness lies in his power of thought?. Victory will surely go to the one who never quits. All achievements that you see have their beginning with critism like this our own, so do not listen to hear-say information that you might have received okay. Most people wish for riches, but few provide the definite plan and the burning desire which pave the way to wealth.
My dear, bear in mind that he who looks into the future with the eyes of fear, will see nothing but failure. What you hear determines how you think, how you think determines how you behave and how you behave determines what you become. Our future is too good to be ignored. Only fools make permanent decisions without knowledge.
I am sending you this letter to you for the WILL of GOD to be done through you and your families,my name is Mrs Agnes Peter,From all indications,I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you in your country for the good work of God through you because my late husband is a philanthropist and he had done to many countries like Ethiopia,Ghana,Liberia,Sierra Leone,Haiti,Bulgaria Benin Republic and some other countries before he die.
I decided to WILL/donate small amount of US$950,000 (Nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the Lord because the bible says in the book of Psalms 41: 1 Blessed is he that considered the poor, the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Psalms 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live, and let me not ashamed of my hope. Psalms 138: 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou will revive me, Psalms 145:18, Psalms 57: 7 My heart is fixed. O God my heart is fixed, I will sing & give praise, Psalms 51: 17 The sacrifices of God are broken spirit, a broken & contrite heart, O God thou will not despise.
I will like you to forward me your details below:
1.YOUR FULL NAME AND COUNTRY 2.YOUR FULL HOME ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER 3.YOUR OCCUPATION
Immediately i receive these information from you then i will tell you what to do to receive the said fund and I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish. And Also I will be contacting with you by email because of my health problem.Kindly get back to me with my private Email Id: mrsagnespeter@gmail.com for a An Urgent information immediately you hear from my family attorney.
