419 scam: "Mr. James Cook"<sophieangel@terra.es> PLS CALL MR.JAMES COOK+34 672 585 739

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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:

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)
- "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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- +34672585739 (Spain, 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.
- jamescooks8@aol.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. James Cook" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamescooks8@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:07:20 +0200
Subject: PLS CALL MR.JAMES COOK+34 672 585 739

>From Mr. James Cook

How are you today and your family? I hope all is good, kindly pay attention and understand my aim of
communicating you today through this letter, my name is Mr. James Cook , Regional Managing Director
Bank hear in Spain. I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the
deal described here-under for our both mutual benefit and hope you will keep it a top secret because of
the nature of the transaction, During the course of our bank year auditing,

I discovered an unclaimed/abandoned fund, sum total of US$12,500,000.00 (Twelve Million Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars Only) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who lost
his life and family,In Madrid tarin bombing.

Now our bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has done that.
I personally has been unsuccessful in locating any of the relatives for 4 years now, I sincerely seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin / Will Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this
account valued at {US$12,500,000.00} can be paid to you, which we will share in these percentages ratio,
60% to me and 40% to you.

All that I require from you is your sincere co-operation; trust and utmost confidentiality to enable us conduct
this transaction successfully. I assured you that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law both in your country and here in London
once the fund is transferred to your bank account. Upon your consideration and acceptance of this
offer, please proceed immediately and send to me the following information.

1.Your Full Name,
2.Your Contact Address &
3.Your direct Mobile telephone Number.
4.Your Occupation and Age.

This information will enable me to upload your data into our bank database to reflect in the bank network
system that you are the named next of kin/will beneficiary of this fund and I will guide you on how to open
communication with the bank and make the claims for onward transfer of the fund to you, please note that
we have few days to carry out this deal, Your kind rapid response through my
personal email:jamescooks8@aol.com will be highly appreciated.

Thanking you in anticipation for your response.

Regards,
Mr. James Cook
Regional Managing Director,
jamescooks8@aol.com
Tel.+34 672 585 739

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam