419 scam: "Paul Thurston" <test@test.com> Compliments of the season.

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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "million united states 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)
- ",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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- thurstonpaul44@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Paul Thurston" <test@test.com>
Reply-To: lorenzobengat@aliyun.com
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:56:54 -0800
Subject: Compliments of the season.

Hello,

I hope this email wouldn't come to you as a surprise. Having gone through your profile, I am convinced and pleased to solicit your sincere and urgent assistance over this matter.

I am Barrister Paul Thurston, an Attorney to late Mr. Peter a local contractor with the Lagos State Government of Nigeria. My client Late was awarded a contract worth of One Hundred and Fifty-Five Million United States Dollars (155,000,000:00USD) by the Lagos state Government of Nigeria for the maintenance and construction of Nigerian National Petroleum corporation Pipeline at Ejigbo Power Depot in the states in 2018 and the contract was fully executed by my late client. My client has been paid One Hundred Million United States Dollars from the contract and he was to receive the balance payment of the contract, but unfortunately my client was involved in a fatal auto accident with his entire family on Sagamu Express Road where he eventually lost his life and his two kids and wife. This was on the 25th of November 2020.

Sequel to the death of my late client, there is every need to present a next of kin to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) via Lagos State Government so that they can release the balance of his contract money. Already the CONTRACT PAYMENT OFFICE under the Lagos State Government has contacted me that the balance payment for the executed contract, which has been approved for payment, is ready for collection. I am therefore asked to present the beneficiary/next of kin for the claim of the money from their office.

At this juncture, I have decided to divert this Fifty-Five Million United States Dollars to a foreigner who will be presented to NNPC/LSG, by soliciting the assistance of a reliable individual (A Foreigner) that will be presented as the beneficiary/next of kin to the deceased for the payment of the fund. I will prepare all legal documents in your name as the successor /next of kin from our Federal High Court to back up the claim on your behalf which will enable Lagos State Government & NNPC to release the money into your nominated bank account on your behalf as the known next of kin to my late client.

As soon as I receive a positive response from you; action will commence. Please bear in mind that there is no risk involved in this transaction, but it requires absolute sincerity and confidentiality due to the nature of the transaction.

I am willing to give you 40% of the fund as a reward for your assistance in this transaction while 10% of the money will be set aside after successful claim of this money to take care of any expenses that will be involved locally or internationally during the process of executing the business. I will want you to respond to my email via the below email address if you find it difficult getting this one, with your private phone numbers, fax number, cell phone #, your home/Company's Address as I will be coming over to your end for the sharing and for easy communication.

I look forward to your swift response via my private email: ( thurstonpaul44@gmail.com ).

Regards,
Barrister Paul Thurston

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam