419 scam: Fred Smith <fredlucassmith@gmail.com> KINDLY REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

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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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- fredlucassmith@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Fred Smith <fredlucassmith@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fredlucassmith@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2015 17:46:29 +0100
Subject: KINDLY REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

*Dear friendThis message might meet you in utmost surprise, However, it's
just my Urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you for
this transaction I am a banker by profession from one of the leading bank
in the UK and Currently holding the post of Manager Foreign remittance
Department in our bank.I have the opportunity of transferring the left over
funds ($ 30,000.000 million) of one of my bank clients who died Along with
his entire family in a plane crash. Hence, I am inviting you for a business
deal where this money can be shared between us in the ratio of 50/40 while
10% will be mapped out for expenses. I will like to inform you that this
transaction is 100% risk free, WHILE further Top details of the transfer
will be forwarded to you as soon as I receive your return mail. And Also
promise me That You will not disappoint me when this fund hits your
account.Meanwhile the World Bank Group has mandated that bank here in UK to
release all unclaimed fund immediately When the next of kin is Discovered
with due application. This payment will be effected through Swift
Telegraphic Transfer immediately our bank approve your application of
claim.if you can handle this transaction with me, get back to me with the
below information's to enable me give you Further Details Regarding to the
transaction.1) Your Full Name .............................2) Your Age
....................................3) Marital Statuses
............................4) A copy of your international passport or
photo identity5) Your Cell Phone Number ......................6) Your
Country ................................7) Your Occupation
.............................8) Fri ....................................9)
Your Religion ...............................Write to my private email
address (fredlucassmith@yahoo.com <fredlucassmith@yahoo.com>) directly with
the above information if you can handle the deal with me, Please keep this
proposal as a top secret and delete it if you are not
interested.Regards,Fred Smith*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam