419 scam: "Anurag Sharma"<ministry@defence.lk> Re: Reply Soonest

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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:
- "consignment " (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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: "Anurag Sharma" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <anuragsharmaa920@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:14:04 -0800
Subject: Re: Reply Soonest

Hello My Dear,

According to the World bank meeting held yesterday in London and a sum of $7.2million has been approved in your name to be delivered direct to you in your country
without traveling to anywhere or sending money outside your country. You're advised to stop communication with any other office in regards to this transaction and comply with my full instructions. On receipt of this message, kindly send to me a copy of your international passport for me to be sure i'm communicating with the right beneficiary to this fund, immediately we verify your ID, we will send a diplomat with your fund sealed up in a consignment box without the knowledge of the diplomat and you must keep every details confidential until you clear out this fund and have it in your custody.

Finally, i'll advice you to stop any communication with any other office in regards to this transaction so we can further more on how this money will get to you.

Anurag Sharma
Head of diplomatic commission
World Bank, London Branch.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam