419 scam: "Richard Rico Jr"<vnb208@sify.com> RE: Captain Richard Rico Jr

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "the 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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Rico Jr" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <crricojr@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:10:52 -0800
Subject: RE: Captain Richard Rico Jr

FROM CAPTAIN RICHARD RICO JR.
1047 KELLY STREET 2A BRONX NY 10459 USA.
MY PHONE NUMBER: +1-347-3214672

Dear Sir/Madam,

I humbly wish to use this medium to draw your attention for an investment in your country. My name is Captain. Richard Rico Jr. I am America soldier, serving in the military with the Third (3rd) infantry Division in Iraq currently in United States for treatment of the injury I sustained during our rampage in Iraq. I and my superior officer after going on a rampage in Saddam Hussein's palace in Baghdad discovered a large container where various denominations of currency worth millions are hidden.?

You can enter the below website to confirm more of our discovery which was made known to the government, but this particular one is a top secret: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm

Having discovered the container in question, I alerted my superior officer and we smartly counted away a substantial amount US$25.3Million (Twenty-five million Three Hundred Thousand United State Dollars). The fund in question was packaged in 2 trunk boxes coded with a security code number and was moved to a Secure Private Security Company in Europe with the assistance of a Security Diplomat.

Basically since we are still in active service, we cannot keep this fund in our bank accounts. Therefore, on this juncture that I was mandated by my superior to look for a reliable and trustworthy person who could assist us to receive the fund on our behalf for investment purposes. Hence, my contacting you there is no risk whatsoever involve. My duty is to find a good partner that we can trust and assist us secure this fund. Can I trust you to ensure confidentiality of this transaction? We have already informed our lawyer about this arrangement and he will process all the enabling documentation in your name as the Trustee/Beneficiary of the 2 boxes to facilitate the release of the fund to you by the Security Company in Europe where the Consignment 2 boxes deposited.

Conclusively, we have agreed to offer you 35% of the total sum while 65% is to be held on trust by you until we decide on a suitable investment in your country where we can invest our 65%.

If you are interested, kindly get back to me with your complete information below; your direct telephone and fax numbers, mobile phone number, your occupation, your age, your home/office address.

I hope to trust you as who will not sit on this money when you claim it.

I await your timely response:

Respectfully yours.

CAPTAIN RICHARD RICO JR.

Anti-fraud resources:

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