419 scam: "Mr. Tony Balko" <tonybalk84457@edu.net> Trustee.....///

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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)
- "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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- harringtonsmith56@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Tony Balko" <tonybalk84457@edu.net>
Reply-To: harringtonsmith56@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:57:36 +0100
Subject: Trustee.....///

Dear friend/funds trustee,

This letter might come to you as a suprise but do not let it be.My Name's Mr.Tony .O.Balko. Given my current state of health,I have decided to donate what I have to you, I am 76 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer about 2 years ago, immediately after the death of my Wife, Who had worked with me tirelessly until we were driven out of Peru and our farms seized. I have been touched to donate from what I have inherited from my late wife estate to you for the good work and support since we never had any child, rather than allow My wife's relatives to use our hard earned funds ungodly.Please pray that the good Lord forgive me my sins. I have asked God to forgive me and I believe he has because he is a merciful God. I will be going in for an operation soon. I decided to WILL/donate the sum of GBP £12,400,000.00 Pounds(Twelve million four Hundred thousand British Pounds) which is equivalent to $19,615,560.00 USD to you for the good work and expect you will help support the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows. At the moment i cannot take any telephone calls right now due to my deteriorating health condition.You might be suprised how i came across your email,i was doing a research on how to get a charity home to donate this funds to before i came across your email on the web and my spirit told me to contact donate the funds to you.Immediately i sent to you this email,i adjusted my Will and my Executor is aware I have changed my will; you and him will arrange for the change of ownership of the funds and transfer of funds to you.The funds deposited with a finance outfit and the name is with held basically for security and confidential purposes and would only be released to (you).

I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and Please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others.

Contact my Executor:
Harrington smith Esq.
Principal Partner Harrington smith and Associates
Email: harringtonsmith56@hotmail.com

You are to contact him with your your information below for further process:

*Full names
*Contact direct mobile number
*and your full address
*Age

You are advised to tell him that I have WILLED GBP 12,400,000.00 to you that I have known you for some years before now as I rightly introduced you to him,and I have also notified him that I am WILLING that amount to you as my friend for a specific good work. I know you may not remember me too well again but I have been directed to do this from my heart. Thanks and God bless.

NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished as I don't want anything that will Jeopardize my last wish.And Also I will be contacting with you by email from time to time. I sincerely hope I make the operation.

Regards,
Mr.Tony Balko

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