419 scam: "INFO" <ref01234@yahoo.co.uk> Important Information

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "INFO" <ref01234@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 06:06:39 +0200
Subject: Important Information

From: Frederick Taylor,
Investigating Officer,
HM Treasury.
640066 Hatton Garden,
London ECIN 9LE.

Confidential Information

Dear Friend,

My name is Frederick Taylor, I work with HM Treasury, I have
seen
that several times people tried to divert your funds into
their own personal
account I mean those you call your partners. Now I write to
you in respect
of the amount which I have been able to send to you through
the United
Nation Diplomat who have arrived in Africa, I want you to
know that the
diplomat would deliver the funds which I have package as a
diplomatic
compensation to you and the amount in the consignment is
$6,000.000.00 (Six
Million Dollars Only).

To this end, I did not disclose the content to the diplomat
that the box
contain money but I told him that it is your compensation
from the Financial
Secretary and from our affiliate, I want you to know that
this funds would
help your financial status as I have seen in record that you
have spent a
lot trying to receive this funds and I am not demanding so
much from you but
Just 40% of the funds.

I want you to get back to me so that I can give you the
contact information
of the diplomat who arrived Africa for the past two days and
have been
waiting to get your information so that he can proceed with
the delivery to
your doorstep.

Yours Sincerely,
Frederick Taylor.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam