419 scam: "Jim Russell"<jimrussell99@gmail.com> DEAR FRIEND

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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)
- ",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)
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Jim Russell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jim.russel01@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2014 16:27:18 -0800
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

Dear Friend,

I am Mr Jim Russell and based here in the United Kingdom, in bed with a sickness that has defiled all medication, my doctors report indicates that I have but only few Months to live. Though I am very rich that my properties and investment are being diverted or confisticated by business associates and friends, I have to make trade-offs. As a mission to fulfill my commitments to affect lives. I have in deposit with a Bank here in the UK a huge cash deposits valued at $10,000,000.00 dollars which I intend to distribute to charity through you.As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.

I really don't know how to explain this situation to you, but I believe and pray that you will understand and act as soon as possible to enable the Bank release and transfer my funds as I want to be here to confirm the release of my funds to you.I want to assure you that this will be handled legally .

I want the funds transferred to you so you can distribute these funds to charities of your choice as I do not have the strength to search for charities that will benefit from the funds. You will also receive 30% of the total funds for your assistance to have this done.

I want you to know that I have in safe-keeping every document that will facilitate the released and transfer of my funds to you. My contacting you is based on the fact that I want to turn my disaster into an opportunity to help others with all I have laboured for.

Please kindly respond to enable me give you more details on how to proceed

Yours Cordially,

Jim Russell

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam