419 scam: "THOMAS" <thomasirene@ankara.tc> COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON

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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "THOMAS" <thomasirene@ankara.tc>
Reply-To: <fluctbruce@poczta.onet.pl, bruceflucther@sify.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:48:13 +0100
Subject: COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON

Dear Good Friend,

I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting the fund valued for US$10.5M.The fund have been transferred under the co-operation of a new partner from Japan. Presently i'm in Japan for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. meanwhile,i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring these fund despite that it failed us some how.

Now contact my secretary,his name is Mr.Bruce Flucther ask him to send you the total amount of US$1.500,000.00 which i kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.I appreciated your efforts at that time very much i thank you.

So feel free and get in touch with my secretary Mr.Bruce Flucther and instruct him where to send the amount to you.I droped an ATM card worth of US$1.500,000.00 on your name so contact him to enable him send it to you. Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all the sufferness we went through,i am very busy here because of the investment projects which me and the new partner are having at hand.So you have to contact my secretary as soon as possible and ask him to send you the ATM card worth US$1,500,000.00 without any delay as I have instructed him to do when you ask for it.Thanks.

Best regards,

Thomas Irene

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam