419 scam: "okon" <thomasokon@bareed.alburaq.net> private.ramadi IraqTANCE/On New York Attacks.rican OnlinePŒë¸"

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +2348038626972 (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.
- fuss_tom@yahoo.co.in (Yahoo, India; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "okon" <thomasokon@bareed.alburaq.net>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 07:15:31 +0200
Subject: private.

DR.THOMAS OKON
MANAGER GULF BANK PLC.
TEL= 234-8038626972
Private Email: fuss_tom@yahoo.co.in

Dear Friend,

I am DR.THOMAS OKON The Manager Gulf Bank, Lagos, Nigeria. I have
urgent
and-very confidential business proposition for you. On April 6, 1996, a
Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation, Mr.james smith made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for
some months, valued at S$32,500,000.00 (Thirty-two Million Five hundred
Thousand Dollars
only) in my branch. Upon maturity,I sent a routine notification to his
forwarding address but got no reply. After a month,we sent a reminder
and finally we discovered from his contract employers,the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation that Mr. james smith on 1 February 1997
died in a
plane crash on air senegal on aircraft Name Hawker Siddeley HS-748.
This crash happened in Tambacoumba, Senegal, Africa and the
registration
number of the aircraft is 6AV-AEO, and since his untimely death the
funds has been
dormant in his account with my Bank without any claim of the fund On
further
investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all
attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made
further investigation and discovered that Mr. james smith did not
declare
any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank
Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$32,500,000.00 has
carefully been moved out of my bank to a security company and finance
company
for
safe-keeping.No one will ever come
forward to claim it. According to Nigerian Law,at the expiration of
10(ten) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian
Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.Consequently, my
proposal is
that I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in as the next
of kin to the late mr.james smith as to claim the money I deposited
with the security and finance company in two trunk boxes, though the
security
company does not know the real contents of the boxes as I tagged them
to be photographic materials
for export.am writing you because as a public servant, we can not
operate a foreign account or have an account outside the country I want
to
present you as the owner of the two trunk boxes in the security company
so
you can be able to claim them with the help of my attorney.All these
are to make sure that the
fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some
corrupt government officials. This is simple.I will like you to provide
immediately your full names and address so that the Attorney will
prepare
the necessary documents which will put you in place as the owner of the
boxes. The money
will be moved out for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 35%for
you and 5% will take care of all expenses incure on both side.There is
no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done
by the Attorney and this will guarantee the successful execution of
this transaction. if you are interested, pleas reply immediately via my
email address,as soon as i got your response, I shall then provide you
with
more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the
transaction. Please observe with
utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would
be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your
assistance to invest my share in your country. Hoping to hear from you
through
my private e-mail box= fuss_tom@yahoo.co.in

REGARDS,
DR.THOMAS OKON

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