419 scam: "Mr. Harrison James"<officefile061976@yahoo.com> Dear Valued Customer,

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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- westtenunion@superposta.com (Superposta; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Harrison James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westtenunion@superposta.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2012 19:35:22 -0700
Subject: Dear Valued Customer,

Dear Valued Customer,

This is to inform you that we received email from one Mr. Paul Richard Chamberlain from Australia who presented to us an address plus ID card and account number, informing us that you gave him the power of attorney to claim your fund amounted to US$2,500,000.00 deposited in your name with BB Bank.
Please try and get back to us immediately for reconfirmation before we instruct him to pay US$105 for the required reactivation charge and have the fund release to him as ordinances mandated.

Below is the information he sent to us:
Full Name: Paul Richard Chamberlain
Full address: 1994 Mallee Road , JACUP. Western Australia . (WA). Australia 6337.
Occupation: Accountant / Grain and Stock Farmer.
Age: 63 yrs DOB: 22nd January 1949.
Country: Australia . Nationality: Australian.

For more information regarding your funds, email us your current telephone number and private email address here: (westtenunion@superposta.com)
Hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,

Mr. Harrison James

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam