419 scam: <office89@komus.spb.ru> Attn: Reference email holder

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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: <office89@komus.spb.ru>
Reply-To: asianunio@btinternet.com
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 23:01:49 +0530
Subject: Attn: Reference email holder

ASIAN UNION CRIME FIGHTERS /SCAM VICTIMS
Cyber Wiretap & Funds Recovery Department
Online Internet Fraud & Scam Unit
5th Floor World Trade Center,
70 Lodi Estates New Delhi: 110003

Attn: Reference email holder

Firstly we introduce this commission, â€œAsian Union Crime Fightersâ€. We fight cyber crime, internet fraud, scam and money laundering in Africa, London, Asia and United States, our commission has been in existences since 2002 and our duty is to stop Internet fraud. We have over 7,500 fraudsters in our prisons around Asia region and we are still on the lookout for these internet fraudsters. We are aware that a lot of foreigners have been deceived and huge amounts of money have been lost to these fraudsters. They have been promising you percentages in their letters, so that you will help them move funds and they end up demanding money from you and in return you get nothing.

The Leaders of the Asian Crime Fighters has come together to inform the world what is going on now and we have recovered over $ 422 Million Dollars (Four Hundred and Twenty two Million Dollars) from the people we have apprehended. Your reference (Email) was given to us by one of the fraudsters in our detention room after serious investigation and our aim is to refund all lost funds to its legitimate owners.

The Government has approved a total of Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars only (US $ 500,000.00), as compensation of the lost that you incurred as this was a ceiling rate. Some suffered more while others suffered less and the idea is to restore back to the position that you would have been if not defrauded.

In addition to the compensation amount approved in your favor is two hundred Thousand US Dollars only (US $2,000.00), making it a total of seven Hundred Thousand US Dollars. This will be paid to you in the next few days.

We still seek for others who feel they are wise and hope that you will be of assistance by giving us more information as per clue in apprehending them. You can receive your compensation payments via diplomatic channel or WIRE TRANSFERS.

We do hereby ask you to contact this office with your full contact details immediately on further details of your payment for ratification and to redeem your compensation.

Regards
Inspector Andrew Powell
Asian Union Crime Fighters

NB: ** (confidential) If this email is received accidentally and you are not a victim of scam, please Ignore and do not respond**

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam