419 scam: "Mr. Phillip Brown" <officeweb-----bf33@att.net> Urgent Letter from Mr. Phillip Brown

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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:
- "remmitance department" (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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "remmitance department" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a next of kin 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.
- +2348074754524 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Phillip Brown" <officeweb-----bf33@att.net>
Reply-To: p_brown@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 02:57:41 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Urgent Letter from Mr. Phillip Brown

Good Day.

My name is Mr.Phillip Brown, Director Remmitance Department in Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, I am writing in respect of a Switzerland British Citizen customer of my Bank Mr. Ratnavale Victor, dual citizen of Switzerland and Britain , who died together with his wife (Ratnavale Joyce) in a Plane crash on Monday 7th September 1998 GMT 14:22 UK while they were flying from New York to Geneva,Please see for more information.

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html

The late Mr. Victor Ratnavale left in our Bank the sum of Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($15.5 Million) and nobody will ever come for this money because he died with his entire family. I am the only person that is aware of this money since Mr. Victor Ratnavale did not give to my bank any next of kin to inherit his money. Now, I want to use my position in the bank to transfer this money to your country for investment. If you can provide me with an account where I can transfer this (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) $15.5 Million,I will give you 45% of this entire fund while the remaining 45% shall be for me, extra 10% will be for transfer charges. I am hoping to get a favourable response from you.

Below are the informations we need to enable us transfer the Funds to your desire Account.

1. Your name infull

2. Your complete address

3. Your telephone and fax number

4. Your occupation

Thank you and please kindly call me as soon as you receive this mail, my telephone number is:+2348074754524 for more information.

Best Regards

Mr. Phillip Brown

Anti-fraud resources:

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