419 scam: "Razak Mustapha .K"<razak_mustapha01@sify.com> VERY URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

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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:

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:
- "top secret" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Razak Mustapha .K" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <razak_mustapha_k@sify.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2012 03:04:29 -0700
Subject: VERY URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

Thanks for your reply and i really appreciate it. The God who has touched your heart to
help me will guild and protect you this day. Even if we don't do anything, your responds
alone gives me hope and makes me know that i can achieve this by his grace and I really
want you to know that this is a top secret and wouldn't want any other ear to hear because
of what is happening around my life, so sorry if i have sounded this way but i must tell
you the frankly truth. I really want to know who you are more and also need a promise from
you that you are not going to betray me or expose me in the process of this transaction,
Please let me know if you are for real. Tell me more about yourself and your country, your
phone number and also your picture, let me know who i am dealing with. I need an assurance
from you, Sir. As soon as i receive this update, i will detail you more about this
transaction as this transaction will not take us more than a week to achieve our aim. Please
let me know you as soon as possible. May my God bless you for even answering me, you have
made me know that my prayers has been answered. Thank you and waiting your Urgent response.

I shall be sending you the details of this transaction as soon as I receive your information.

Regards,
Hon.Razak K. Mustapha

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam