419 scam: Bradley Wick <inge@vaaga.net> Good day,

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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.

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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:
- "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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: Bradley Wick <inge@vaaga.net>
Reply-To: <wickbradley7@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2023 07:26:06 -0700
Subject: Good day,

Greetings,

?I am Bradley Wick, a Financial Consultant from London. My client, a Businessman from Pretoria, who died in March 2020 of COVID complications, has a fund valued at Ten Million United States Dollars in a bank in the Middle East. My client had no traceable next of kin and did not update his WILL before his demise. I want to front you as the beneficiary of the deposited fund. I shall provide you with all documents when you reply positively to this proposal. Sharing modalities will be discussed in your response.

On your reply, kindly include your full name, occupation and Telephone contacts.

Bradley Wick

North London

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam