419 scam: "Mr. Paul" GOOD DAY TO YOU,

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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)
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- paulabbate160@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Paul"
Reply-To: <paulabbate160@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2023 02:05:25 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY TO YOU,

Dear Friend ,

Since i waited so long without hearing from you regarding your confirm
able draft worth of seven millions five hundred thousand united states dollars ($7,500000),

I went ahead and cashed the money and
registered it with Trans world courier service as box of African clothes
with instruction to deliver it to you upon your contact to their office,

i am leaving today to another country for three months course.You can
contact them now to avoid them delaying with the box.

Bear in mind that i have paid all the charges they requested,Both mailing
charges and insurance.All you need to do is to pay their security keeping
fee of $150 USD,I would have paid it before leaving but they insisted that
it
will be paid by you since they don't know when you will be contacting
them.Below is their contact details remember that I registered it as
African clothes do not allow them know that it content its money if not
they may delay you more and charge you more know that the only money you
are supposed to pay them is the keeping fee of $150 USD:

Also ensure to reconfirm your full info to them to make sure you are the
real owner
such as
FULL NAME...:
PHONE NUMBER:
CITY........:
ANY VALID ID:

Email Address: paulabbate160@gmail.com

Remember to reconfirm your postal address to them and you can update me as
soon as you receive the draft via email.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam