419 scam: "Dr Thomas Brown" <info@notice.org> Payment Approved.

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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)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
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.
- james6709@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Thomas Brown" <info@notice.org>
Reply-To: james6709@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:57:00 +0800
Subject: Payment Approved.

Dear Friend,

Good day to you and your family. I am happy to
inform you about my success in getting those
funds transferred under the co-operation of a
new partner from Belgium. Presently I am in
Belgium for investment projects with my own
share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I did not
forget your past efforts and attempts you made
in getting your winnings sent to your delivery
address, despite that it failed us somehow.

Now contact my secretary in LONDON his name is
(Mr. James Carlito)

Find below his contact information.

Name: Mr. James Carlito
E-mail: james6709@gmail.com

Ask him to send you the total $550,000.00
(FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND US
DOLLARS) certified bank Check, which I raised
in your favour for your compensation for all the
past efforts you have made in receiving your
winnings in this matter. I appreciated your
efforts at that time very much. So feel free and
get in touched with my secretary and give him
your address where to send the check to you.

Please do let me know immediately you receive
the Check to enable us share the joy after all
the distress at that time. In the moment, I am
very busy here because of the investment
projects, which the new partner and me are
having at hand, finally, remember that I have
forwarded instruction to the secretary on your
behalf to receive that money. So feel free to get
in touch with him (Mr. James Carlito) without
any delay.

Best regards,
Dr Thomas Brown

NB - PLEASE DIRECT ALL REPLIES TO MY MR.
JAMES CARLITO

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam