419 scam: "Mr. Eric Stephen"<qar22101@gmail.com> Hello My Dear.

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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:
- "million united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (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.
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.
- ericsteph001@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Eric Stephen"<qar22101@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ericsteph001@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2016 16:28:24 -0700
Subject: Hello My Dear.

My warm greetings to you. I am Mr. Eric Stephen, The Son of Hon. Stephen Dhieu Dau, the former Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, the Current Minister of Trade and Industry Government of South Sudan, i have a very important request that has made me contact you. I decided to reach you directly to solicite your assistance and guidelines in making a business investment and transfer of $35,000,000.00.(Thirty Five Million United States Dollars Only). into your country. The fund deposit with Security and Financial House in Netherlands, which my father did,the fund is legitimate and has all confirmable legal documents to back this payment in your name legitimately.

I seeking asylum here in London, But at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this profitable Business investment until I get your response by mail. Please take out a moment of your very busy Schedule today to respond back if you are interested. please send your email response and direct telephone numbers via my email (ericsteph001@yahoo.com) for an initial confidential communication so that I will give you further explanations on source of funds and details of funds transfer. I wish for utmost confidentiality in handling this transaction. so if your honest and interested reply me via my email (ericsteph001@yahoo.com) for more details.

Awaiting your kind reply soon.

Best Regards
Mr. Eric Stephen

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam