419 scam: "Patrick Walker"<info@thirdwavehrd.com> 34.227.245.138

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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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
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.
- +2347063320243 (Nigeria, 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.
- kelvin.smith1975@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Patrick Walker" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kelvin.smith1975@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2017 00:19:58 -0700
Subject: 34.227.245.138

DEAR FRIEND,

COMPLIMENTS OF THE DAY AND GOD'S BLESSINGS, I AM GLAD TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED THE TRANSACTION,THE MONEY TRANSFERRED TO LONDON . IT IS DONE THROUGH THE ASSISTANT OF YOUR COUNTRY MAN MR.HOWARD FERRARO WHO IS A LONDON BASE BUSINESS MAN THE TOTAL SUM OF $95.5 MILLION WAS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSFERRED INTO MR.HOWARD FERRARO'S BANK ACCOUNT. CURRENTLY I AM IN LONDON WITH HIM,MY WIFE AND CHILDREN.

HOWEVER,I DID NOT FORGET YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF MY SUCCESS,YOU MADE ME WHAT I AM NOW THOUGH YOU ARE NOT THERE TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT WITH ME BUT I GAVE ALL THE CREDIT AND THANKS TO YOU.I KNOW IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT OR RATHER YOUR WISH TO BACK OFF ON ME IN THE TRANSACTION,I UNDERSTAND IT WAS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU MUST HAVE HEARD ABOUT MY COUNTRY AND HER BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. ACTUALLY THERE ARE STILL GOOD ONES FOR EXAMPLE MYSELF.IN APPRECIATE OF YOUR ASSISTANCE I HAVE MAPPED OUT AS A COMPENSATION AND WROTE ON YOUR FAVOR A DRAFT WORTH OF EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY(USD$850,000.00). I LEFT THE DRAFT WITH MY SECRETARY MR.KELVIN SMITH ON MY DEPARTURE TO LONDON.I WOULD LIKE YOU THEREFORE,TO CONTACT HIM ON THE BELOW INFORMATION

SO THAT HE CAN RELEASE THE CHECK TO YOU.

NAME/ MR.Kelvin Smith
EMAIL/kelvin.smith1975@gmail.com
TEL+2347063320243
KINDLY SEND TO HIM YOUR INFORMATION AS LISTED BELOW;
YOUR FULL NAME.........
YOUR ADDRESS.............
YOUR OCCUPATION.........
YOUR AGE.........
YOUR SEX...............
YOUR COUNTRY
YOUR DETECT TEL NO.......
YOUR MOBILE PHONE NO.......

I WOULD HAVE LOVE TO CALL YOU FROM LONDON WHERE I CURRENTLY RESIDE BUT DUE TO THE RECENT TERRORIST ATTACK MR. FERRARO ADVICE ME NOT TO CALL BECAUSE ALL INTERNATIONAL CALLS ARE BEING MONITORED BY THE UK AUTHORITY. CONTACT MR.SAMUEL DOM SO THAT HE CAN RELEASE YOUR DRAFT TO YOU. I WILL STOP HERE.

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND REMAIN BLESSED.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam