419 scam: THOMAS SMITH <thomas90001@att.net> Payment

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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:
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "charles soludo" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: THOMAS SMITH <thomas90001@att.net>
Reply-To: fmfngov@live.co.uk
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 07:54:35 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Payment

Re: Payment

In 2010, several methods of payment were adopted by the government to pay contractors which Dr. Mansur Muhtar and thereafter Prof Charles Soludo and Dr. Tuned Lemo, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman took over, but at the end of the year, your payment could not be effected and payment was cancelled.

After the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the 26th of March, 2010; the FEC has approved the final payment of all foreign debts including the payment of $900,000,000 (Nine hundred million dollars) owed to London club. You can verify all these on your local news.

There is no further delay to effect your payment through telegraphic wire transfer; all you need to do is to comply with your private telephone and fax numbers which will enable me fax to you Account Revalidation form and wire transfer slip. This is the final payment approach, if you do not comply with Instructions, no further payment attempt will be consolidated.

Your response will expedite action. Call me if you need further clarification.

Yours truly,

Thomas smith

Finance Minister

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam