419 scam: "Mr. Albert Thomas"<albertthomas8080@yahoo.com.hk> YOUR MAILL VERY URGENT....!!!

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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)
- "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business" (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.
- albertthomas8082@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Albert Thomas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <albertthomas8081@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 03:20:21 +0800
Subject: YOUR MAILL VERY URGENT....!!!

Dear Friend,

I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business. Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of communication.

My name is Albert Thomas, I am a Project Coordinator with UNICEF Office of Emergency Programs (EMOPS) we are the focal point for emergency assistance, humanitarian policies, staff security and support to UNICEF offices in the field, as well as strategic coordination with external humanitarian partners both within and outside the United Nations system.

It is indeed with a heart of hope that I contact you in the context below; I had to ensure that whoever would I contact in regards to this deal will be a trustworthy individual.
Early this year, series of donations amounting to $5.8M (Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars) were made to our organization. These donations were later earmarked for developmental projects in two West African countries. The problem is when these sorts of funds are released for these projects especially in Africa, they are most often misused or in some cases believe it or not, Embezzled by our field staff in collaboration with the government officials there.

This practice has gone on for so long and not very much has been done about it. I have always been made to understand that my work is based on humanitarian grounds, but I lack the basic comforts in life that comes for somebody in my position.
So I have decided to be wise and pocket a bit of this fund for me as a retirement benefit because even if this money is released, officials in African will still embezzle it.
This is why I am contacting you, because I need your acceptance and co-operation in allowing these funds to be transferred to you as the sub-contractor of these projects in African. After which we will share the total funds transferred by 50% to me and 50% to you.

I can draft an agreement based on this arrangement which can be signed by both of us off course or we can agree to do this deal is an ordinary gentleman's agreement. However, I will welcome any suggestion or question if there is anything that is not quite clear to you.
I expect to hear from you soon, please be informed that I have done all necessary groundwork to ensure that this transaction went as smooth and quick as possible.
Reply me through this my most private email: (albertthomas8082@yahoo.com.hk)
I look forward to your response.
Yours truly,
Albert Thomas

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