419 scam: "Mr. Peterson Rick" <peterson_rick12@sbcglobal.net> Please Contact Thompson Brown For Your $800,000,00 Dollars

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2347055000827
- 23401

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Peterson Rick" <peterson_rick12@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: fedex_express209@sify.com
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 00:40:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Please Contact Thompson Brown For Your $800,000,00 Dollars

Good day!!!
My name is Peterson Rick how are you doing with the family? i hope that you are all doing fine, i have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmation of your Bank Draft of $800,000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you over these couple of weeks. Then I went to the bank to confirm if the draft has expired or getting near to expiring and Dr.Wilson the Director Of International Transfer of CITI Bank UK told me that before the draft will get to your hand that it will not expire. Please, contact THE CONTROLLER OF FEDEX MR.THOMPSON BROWN for your cheque of $800,000.00 with this
Mr Thompson Brown.Email: fedex_delivery05@sify.comTel: TEL:+234 705 500 0827.
Endeavour to provide them with your Security Keeping Code: i mean the A.W.B NO(Fex/12/47433/PCk) and also you are to provide them with these information so that they can use it to re-confirm and be sure that you are the right person they are suppose to deliver the package to:
Claims Requirements
1. Full Name:.....................................2. Address:.......................................3. Nationality:...................................4. Age:.......... Date of Birth:.................5. Occupation:.....................................6. Phone:................ Fax:.....................7. State of Origin:........... Country:...............
Please am sorry to say this to you, You need to pay for the hoilding fees wish is $150 dollars to the hoilding company through Western Union i should have paid it , but is was ask not to pay it becausethey said don't know when you are contacting them for your delivery and please response to they instruction and follow what they have ask you to do okay and you should be rest sure that you package will be at your door step okay
Below this the payment information which have to make the payment through Western Union i was asked to give you
RECEIVER'S NAME: THOMPSON BROWNCITY/COUNTRY: LAGOS/NIGERIATEST QUESTION: WHAT COLOURTEST ANSWER: BLUEZIP CODE : 23401AMOUNT: $150MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER (MTCN): .................SENDER'S NAME: ...............CITY/ STATE WERE YOU MADE THE PAYMENT FROM
Thank'sMy Regards to your FamilyMr. Peterson Rick.

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