419 scam: "Mr. Eric peters"<info@usa.org> Dear Friend

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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)
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.
- p.eric82@yahoo.co.nz (Yahoo, New Zealand; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Eric peters" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <p.eric82@yahoo.co.nz>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2017 20:06:02 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear friend,

With due respect, My Name is Mr. Eric peters. I work with Benin Mines & Energy Industry and also the Head of Finance/contract approval department. A deceased contractor has unpaid contract balance payment of five million eight hundred thousand euros (5.8M) for supply and installation of Industrial Equipment to our Industry. If you are

interested to receive this sum for our use, please let me have your

telephone number and full names to enable me give you comprehensive details on what we are to do to get this transaction concluded. Contact me via my email address: p.eric82@yahoo.co.nz

Mr. Eric peters.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam