419 scam: "Mr. Batty" <webmafema@gmail.com> Good News!

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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:
- "terrorist clearance certificate" ("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. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned 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: "Mr. Batty" <webmafema@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrbattyanable@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2016 11:13:41 +0100
Subject: Good News!

--
I am Mr Batty, A computer scientist working with central bank of Lome
Togo.I just started work with central bank of Lome Togo. and I came
across your file which was marked X and your released disk painted
RED, I took time to study it and found out that you have paid
VIRTUALLY all fees and but the fund was not released to you.

The most annoying thing is that they won't tell you the truth that on
no account will they ever release the fund to you,instead they allow
you spend money unnecessarily,I do not intend to work here all the
days of my life, I can release this fund to you if you can certify me
of my security.

I needed to do this because you need to know the statues of your Funds
and cause for the delay,Please this is like a Mafia setting in Lome
Togo, you may not understand it because you are not a Togolese.

The only thing needed to release this fund is the Anti drug/terrorist
clearance certificate which will be tendered to any of your nominated
bank and the INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE(IRS)for clearance of the
transferred amount in your account.

Once the Anti drug /terrorist clearance certificate is obtained funds
will immediately reflect in your bank within 10 Minutes,the
certificate is all that is needed to complete this transaction.

Note that the actual funds is valued at $15.5 MILLION USD and the
president made a compensation fund release for all unpaid beneficiary
valued at $10 million usd.

Do get in touch with me immediately with me and also send to me your
convenient tel/fax numbers for easy communications.

Thanks while i look forward to your positive reply.

Regards,
Mr Batty

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam