419 scam: "Mr.Brian Patrick" <info.b.patrick@gmail.com> Attn: Director/CEO, I Need Your Assistance

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +22997736478 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- info.b.patrick@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Brian Patrick" <info.b.patrick@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2015 13:45:20 +0100
Subject: Attn: Director/CEO, I Need Your Assistance

Dear Friend,

I trust you are doing great,
After going through your profile, I decided to contact you on transfer.

Let me introduce myself to you, I am Mr. Mr Brian Patrick, The General
Manager head of computing department of our bank (B.O.A), Can you help
me repatriate the sum of $18.2Million Dollars.

During the course of our auditing i discovered a floating fund in an
account opened in 2007 and since now nobody has operated on this
account again, after going through some old files in the records i
discovered that the owner of this account died without a hence the
fund is floating and if i do not remit this fund out urgently it will
be forfeited for nothing.

(A) Can you handle this transfer?
(B) Can I give you this trust?
(C) What will be your commission?

I expect your urgent response if you can handle this transfer, I will
provide the complete details of this transfer proposal as soon as i
hear from you. If you are interested please contact me via Email:
info.b.patrick@gmail.com

Thanks
Best Regards,
Mr Brian Patrick,
+22997736478

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam