419 scam: "Henry McTann" <info@scalix.gov.png> Dear Friend, Mutual Benefit

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "consignment " (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Henry McTann" <info@scalix.gov.png>
Reply-To: <henrymctann@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 May 2012 10:15:32 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend, Mutual Benefit

Dear friend,

This is coming to you from the stable of United Bank for Africa where I was the former Chief Executive Director before I retired in August 2010. There is a pending business transaction which I believe with your cooperation as a foreigner, it will be successful.

The Packaging & Dispatch Department of the Bank has a pending lodgment by Hajiya Turai Yar-Adua, wife of the past President of Nigeria, Dr. Amaru Musa Yar'Adua ) which was already approved and release to be delivered. But unfortunately, prior to his demise, the then acting president now President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan put a hold on all inflow and outflow transaction from The Federation Lodgment Account in UBA.

Now with the cooperation of the new Chief-Auditor General of the UBA bank branch in the USA, this fund can be move as a consignment in the name of a Foreigner. Would you like to act in this regard, for a mutual win-win benefit?

This is for only serious and business oriented minded person. I was simply inspired to seek your co-operation to help clear this package that is ready to be move to America based on your outstanding profile which speaks volume.

I will need your full name and telephone number for further briefing on your share of interest in this respect, and by the end of the transaction, you will have 35% share of the total sum valued at USD88 million.

Sincerely,

Tony Elumelu
C/o: Henry Mctann

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam