419 scam: "Mr. Thomas J. Curry" <www.usaimf@gmail.com> GOOD NEWS.

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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:
- "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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22968970405 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Thomas J. Curry" <www.usaimf@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. Thomas J. Curry" <bar.see@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2015 16:28:21 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GOOD NEWS.

This is to inform you that we have been working towards the eradication of
fraudsters and scam Artists in Africa with the help of the Organization
of African Unity (OAU) United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and FBI.

We
have been able to track down some scam artist in various parts of
African countries which includes (Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Ghana and
Senegal with cote d'ivoire ) and they are all in Government custody now,
they will appear at International Criminal Court (ICC) soon for
Justice.

During the course of investigation, they were able to
recovered some funds from these scam artists and IMF organization have
ordered the funds recovered to be shared among the 10 Lucky people
listed around the World as a compensation. This notice is been directed
to you because your email address was
found in one of the scam Artists file and computer hard-disk while the
investigation, maybe you have been scammed. You are therefore being
compensated with sum of $2.500,000.00 US Dollars valid into an (ATM Card
Number 506119102227445160).

Since your email address is among the
lucky beneficiaries who will receive a compensation funds, we have
arranged your payment to be paid to you through ATM VISA CARD and
deliver to your postal address with the Pin Numbers as to enable you
withdrawal maximum of $5,000 on each withdrawal from any Bank ATM
Machine of your choice, until all the funds are exhausted.

The ATM Card with Security Pin Numbers shall be delivered to you via courier Service, depending your choice.

In order to proceed with this transaction, you will be required to contact the agent in-charge ( Barrister Samuel Edezie Esq ) via e-mail. Kindly look below to
find appropriate contact information:

CONTACT AGENT NAME: Barrister Samuel Edezie Esq

PHONE NUMBER: +22968970405
You will be required to e-mail him with the following information:

FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
DIRECT CONTACT NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:

We
advice you to stop all the communications with everyone regarding your
payment as we have short listed to deliver to you and now urge you to
comply and receive your ATM Card funds.

Thanks for your understanding as you follow instructions while I wait to hear from you today.

Yours in Services

Thomas J. Curry

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam