419 scam: "WANDY SMITH AWALA"<postmaster@localhost.com> I am Mr.Smith Awala Wanda,yg.stp09

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- smith.washington01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "WANDY SMITH AWALA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smith.washington01@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2012 20:55:06 +0100
Subject: I am Mr.Smith Awala Wanda,yg.stp09

Dear Friend,Please, contact me only through this my private email address smith.washington01@gmail.com

I am Mr.Smith Awala Wanda, The bill and exchange Manager of IDB Bank. I want to transfer the sum of US$5.5Million to your bank account for us to share it. The fund belong to our deceased customer who died with his next of kin leaving nobody for the claim. Our bank law stated that if the fund remains unclaimed for four (4) years then, the fund will be transfer to the bank treasury as unclaimed fund. I want to present you as his next of kin because I have all information about the deceased.

Your share will be 40% while 60% will be for me. If you are interested, contact me only through this my private email address smith.washington01@gmail.com with the following details below:

1: Your Full Name: ..............
2: Complete Home Address:...............
3: Age :........
4: Occupation:.........
5: Private Telephone :.........
6: Fax:...............
7: Sex:..............
8: Bank Name: ........
9: Bank Address: ......
10: Account Number:.........
11: Nationality:..............

This transaction is 100% risk free but you should keep the transaction as secret for security reason. All details about the TRANSACTION shall be send to you on the receipt of your reply.

Thanks,
Mr.Smith A. Wanda.
IDB Bank,Benin Republic.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam