419 scam: "PATRICK B. ZACKO"<patrickbridge@e-mile.co.uk> RESPOND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED

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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
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.
- +27866044877 (South Africa, 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.
- patbzacko@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "PATRICK B. ZACKO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patbzacko@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 10:08:04 +0100
Subject: RESPOND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Based upon our immediate need, my colleagues and I, four in number have decided to contact you to intimate you of our plan to have you receive the sum of
(USD 115,500,000.00) One Hundred and Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars for and on our behalf in a healthy bank account.

This fund has accrued from over-invoiced contracts which had been awarded to TECHNOLOGY GENERAL CORPORATION, NEW JERSEY USA,
completed and settled in terms of their values leaving the over invoiced value which was inflated by my colleague and I.

My approach may rattle you but the truth is that I got your contact details from a foundation member of the South African Export Promotion Council (SAEPC)
who had traveled with some other delegates outside South Africa to woo investors.
I am presently the Executive Director of the Audit Department under the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Mines here in South Africa.

If this transaction appeals to you, please respond to this mail.
I will be in a good position to give you full details.
This transaction is 100% risk free because all formalities,
legalities including proper documentation will be observed / obtained from the respective offices.

You will be given 35% for your assistance and 65% will be for us .
Your cooperation will be intensely required and highly appreciated because our success will be totally dependent on our combined efforts in comprehensive compliance with the prevailing,
standard financial rules and regulations in the world of today.

Thank you in advance for your solicited assistance.
I will be anticipating your response.

Patrick B. Zacko
Email: patbzacko@hotmail.com
FAX: +2786 604 4877

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam