419 scam: "MAJOR T.B"<briggs123@wozamail.com> CAN YOU HELP US?

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "diplomatic immunity"
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "MAJOR T.B" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <briggsthomas72@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2015 05:11:27 -0500
Subject: CAN YOU HELP US?

Hello,

I am Major. Thomas Briggs, An American soldier attached to UN peace keeping force in Syria. The commanding officer of the First Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment. AS you may know, everyday there are several cases of insurgent attacks and suicide bombs going on here. We have managed to move funds belonging to some demised persons who were attacked and killed through these attacks. The total amount is US$15 Million dollars in cash.

We want to move this money to you, for safe keeping , My partner and I will take 70%, while you take 30%. No strings attached! Just help us move it out of Syria which is a war zone right now.We plan on using Diplomatic courier and shipping the money out in two large metallic Boxes, using diplomatic immunity. If you are interested, I will send you the full details. My job is to find a good partner that we can trust and who is ready to assist us. Can we trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone/fax numbers and other contact details for quick communication. This business is risk free. The boxes can be shipped out in 48hrs, Get back to me.

Respectfully,
Major Thomas Briggs

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam