419 scam: billing@autooptions.in Business Proposal Notification

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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:
- "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)
- "confidential business" (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)
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.
- alfonso_cortez1@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: billing@autooptions.in
Reply-To: silver.jackpot1@aol.com
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2015 15:09:20 +0200
Subject: Business Proposal Notification

Confidential Business Proposal!!

I am senior staff work with a bank here in Spain, I have a business which will benefit both
of us, The amount of money involved is ($9 .5 Million Dollars) which i want to
transfer from an abandoned account to your bank account; it is 100% risk free.

My position is an advance for this deal.
A lot of customers open private accounts with different Banks without the
knowledge of their families and when they die, such money will be lost to the
Bank, unless someone comes to claim it. This is how a lot of Bank Directors make
so much money silently.

I have evaluated the risks and the only risk I have here is from you
refusing to work with me. I am the only one who knows about this situation, and now
you are second. Therefore, if my offer is of no appeal to you, delete this
message and forget I ever contacted you. My Contact email ; alfonso_cortez1@aol.com

Thanks
Mr Alfonso Cortez

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam