419 scam: "ALICE HAFEZ S"<hafshlish@gmail.com> VITAL

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "ALICE HAFEZ S" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <2330928471@qq.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2014 23:54:27 +0700
Subject: VITAL

Dear Friend,
I am sorry for this interruption. I have no other way to reach you than these ways if the contents here under are contrary to your moral ethics. Please accept my apology, but please treat with absolute secrecy and personal.
With due regards,
I got your details after an extensive on-line search Via ( Network Power Charitable Trust ) for a reliable person, I'm Mrs. Alice Hafez, a 65 years old dying woman who was diagnosed for cancer about 2 years ago, I have decided to donate (US$7.5 Million US Dollars ) and legacy left for me by my late husbands to you for charitable goals.

I want you to know that i am dyeing and i am asking you to help complete this because it is my last wish and as a legacy i wish to be completed and you are the rightful person to complete it hence i contacted you. You will use the money to build a school and orphanage home to support those who don't have and those who don't have parent, I will want the school to be in memory of my name and my late husband. You will take 20% of the total fund for your personal use, so that you will be happy to handle this project. Look forward to hear from you.

Best regards
Alice Hafez

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam