419 scam: "Mr. Peter Phillips"<michael_dika@yahoo.com> Re:Dear Sir/Madam,

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "cost of transfer" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
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.
- manager_information@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Peter Phillips" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <manager_information@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2012 18:55:44 +0200
Subject: Re:Dear Sir/Madam,

Dear Sir/Madam,

This letter is written to you in order to change your life from today.I am
Mr. Peter Phillips the Director, International Remittance Department of
this Bank,my Boss, Mr. Jacobs M. Smith, the Managing Director/CEO of this
Bank is now on compulsory leave and all power have been vested on me to
make all international payments.Also, due to reported cases of corrupt
practices in other Banks, the World Bank Government has revoked/cancelled
all power vested on those Banks and have appointed our Bank (Barclays Bank Plc)
to make all foreign payments. Your fund has been in this
bank for many years unclaimed because my boss Mr. Jacobs M. Smith have
refused to tell you the truth on how to claim your fund this is because he
has been using the interest accumulated from your fund every year to
enrich himself without your knowledge.

I want to help you pull out this fund to your bank account using the
easiest and the quickest method, which have not been made known to you
before.By this method, you will open a domiciliary account with this Bank
(Barclays Bank Plc ), your fund would be lodged into this
disciplinary account and your fund will be paid in directly to any Bank of
your choice.After the transfer,you will confirm the fund in your Bank
account within 5hours the same day. No Cost of Transfer (COT) and no
stoppage from any Government departments as the transfer will be done
within the bank alone and it is very safe. The method which was introduced
to you before is the Telegraphic Transfer (TT)for which confirmation was
48hrs, because of the time factor,petitions could come from various
organizations stopping your payment and asking you to pay huge fee which
would be difficult for you to pay so that they can benefit from the
huge interest your fund generates while still in the Bank.This method is
not safe for you because it is not done within the bank alone as
information of the payment would be sent to the Central Control Unit (CCU)
of the Federal Ministry of Finance and office of the Accountant General of
the Federation. As a good Christian, I have nothing to gain by keeping
your fund,I want to assist you receive your fund before my boss resumes
office. You have to follow up and work with me now, so keep this very
confidential because of fraudsters and impostors who goes about presenting
various bank accounts in order to divert another beneficiary's fund.

Confirm to me through this e-mailaddress,:(manager_information@yahoo.co.jp)
your present/valid account co-ordinates and Amount to be claimed so that I
do not transfer your fund to the wrong Bank Account.

Awaiting your quick response.

Yours Truly,
Mr.Peter Phillips.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam