419 scam: ALPHONSO MENDEZ <gh_milton2@yahoo.co.uk> WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY

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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "cheques " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: ALPHONSO MENDEZ <gh_milton2@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: alphmendez1@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 09:35:33 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY

I am the Accounts Supervisor of one of our customers who died in jail in England 6yrs ago for an offence of Reckless Endangerment of the life of his only child that died in his crocodile pool.His wife died of Cancer earlier before the death of his only child. He died in jail due to his Asmatic condition during winter season. His name is Engineer.George Bernstein (An Arms Dealer) and a GOLD CARD account owner with deposit of Fifty Eight Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand British Pounds Sterling, Eight Pence Only with our bank here in London.

Since then information concerning his prosecution, sentence and death was informed to me.While this secret remains, I did not forward his account name amongst the list of dormant funds. After the death of his wife and his only child, he did not forward any name as next of kin for replacement. Meanwhile before he was taken to jail, he made a direct telephone call to me issued a STANDING ORDER directing me to hold on trust his Balance Sheet & Cheque Booklet in which he stamped & signed some blank cheques without writing amount for payment & name of payee. I made withdrawals of cash and remittances with these cheques by completing these two columns (Amount for Payment and Name of Payee) according to his demand for amount to be paid for his Insurance Coverage and other bills before his death.

Now the cheque book remains two cheques with me duly stamped & signed by him and there is no next of kin or family to come for claims of this entire money since 6yrs ago, this contact is demanding your assistance towards my decision to move this amount of late Engineer.George Bernstein bearing One Hundred and Three Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand British Pounds Sterling, Eight Pence from England to any possible country through a trusted Financial Firm. As the Account Supervisor of Engineer.George Bernstein bank account, I guarantee to destroy and delete all valid documents and financial information concerning Engineer. George Bernstein in our central computer system after our success.

"BEFORE MY HONOUR TO MY COUNTRY"I guarantee that this is a safe contact with good benefit of equal share of 50-50 percentage for both of us. I have made a good arrangement with the Financial Firm for the movement of the fund to any country you might suggest to be safe. Under good responses to ourselves this transaction will end before 7days.

SAFETY AND CONFIDENTIALITY IS MY WORD!!!

Acknowledge receipt of this mail.

Yours Faithfully,

DR. ALPHONSO MENDEZ.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam