419 scam: "grace"<charles@impressiveprints.co.uk> MY DEAR GOOD FRIEND

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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)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "revfatherjoh@earthlink.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
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.
- +447035910873 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "grace" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <infoofficepayment@mail.md>
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:43:53 -0700
Subject: MY DEAR GOOD FRIEND

Dear Friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? You may not
understand why this mail came to you. But if you do not remember me, you might
have receive an email from me in the past regarding a multi-million-dollar
business proposal which we never concluded.
I am using this opportunity to inform you that this multi-million-dollar
business has been concluded with the assistance of another partner, who
financed the transaction to a logical conclusion. I thank you for your great
effort to our unfinished transfer of the fund into your account due to one
reason or the other best known to you.

But I want to inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund into my
new partner's account Abroad , who was eventually, capable of assisting me in
this great venture. Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust
worthiness you showed during the course of the transaction, maybe you've
forgetting.

I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of
$250,000.00. I have left a certified international bank draft for you worth of
Two hundred and fifty thousand United States Dollars {$250,000.00} cashable
anywhere in the world. My dear friend I will like you to contact my partner,
who is presently now in London, his contacted is as follow;

Name: john william
Email: revfatherjoh@earthlink.net
phone:Tel:+447035910873
fax;447005947225

I authorized him to release the Bank Draft to you whenever you contact him
requesting for it. At the moment, I'm very busy here (Australia) because of
the investment projects, which I and the new partner are having at hand.

Please I will like you to accept this token with good faith as this is from
the bottom of my heart, also comply with Ken Jorn directives so that he will
send the draft to you without any delay.
Don't forget to send to him your following information's;

(1)Your full name.
(2)Phone number/address.
(3)Profession, age and marital status.
(4)Scan copy of your ID card

Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hoping to hear from you as
soon as you cash your Bank Draft.

Mrs. Grace Edwards.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam