419 scam: "BRITISH RED CROSS." <bnpcell@sbcglobal.net> PLEASE YOUR HELP IS NEEDED.

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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +442033180228
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.
- helphaitivictims2010@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "BRITISH RED CROSS." <bnpcell@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: helphaitivictims2010@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:18:07 -0800 (PST)
Subject: PLEASE YOUR HELP IS NEEDED.

BRITISH RED CROSS.
UK OFFICE.
44 Moorfields
London EC2Y 9AL.
Tel: +44-203-318-0228.
Fax: +44-203-318-0246.
Email: helphaitivictims2010@yahoo.co.uk

Haiti Earthquake Appeal Aid.

HELP HAITI EARTHQUAKES VICTIMS!!!HELP HAITI EARTHQUAKES VICTIMS.
THE RED CROSS INTERNATIONAL UNITED KINGDOM ZONE (B) HEREBY
APPEALLING TO YOU FRIENDS,PUBLIC,FAMILIES AND COMPANIES, TO HELP US
WITH ONLINE FUND RAISING TO ENABLE US TREAT OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE
AFFECTED WITH QUAKE DISASTER ACROSS HAITI.VISIT

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/haiti.quake/?hpt=htopic

TO SEE WHY YOUR HELP/MONEY IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

HELP THE NEEDY,POOR AND SICK,NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFULL GIVER AND GIVERS NEVER LACK. IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THE SENDING OF THE RELIEF FUNDS TO THE NEEDY URGENTLY,PLEASE YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEND US YOUR DONATION/CONTRIBUTION TO UNITED KINGDOM BY EXPRESS WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER ( www.westernunion.com ) THROUGH THE NAME OF OUR FINANCIAL OFFICERS NAME BELOW, GOODS AND ANY OTHER STUFFS YOU WANTED TO DONATE CAN STILL BE SENT TO OUR HEAD OFFICE ADDRESS ABOVE:

NAME: MRS, SUSAN FOWLER.
ADDRESS: 44 MOORFIELD ROAD.
LONDON, EC2Y 9AL.

PROVIDE US WITH THE TRANSFER DETAILS INCLUDING YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS ON
OUR OFFICIAL E-MAIL ADDRESS:

N.B.
DONATORS FROM £100 TO £4500 POUNDS WILL ONLY HAVE THEIR NAMES
APPEARED IN OUR RELIEF MAGAZINES AND WEBSITES WHILE THOSE DONATIONS
ABOVE ( £5000 POUNDS) TO ANY AMOUNT WILL HAVE A SPACE FOR THEIR FOTOS,NAMES AND BUSINESS ADVERTS IN OUR MAGAZINES AND WEBSITES AS DOES IN THE PAST YEARS.FOR THE LATER
(VIP)S PLEASE SEND US YOUR FOTOS AND BUSINESS DETAILS.

WE AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE AND THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATIONS AND
GENEROSITY TO MANKIND. PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION YOU CAN REACH ME ON PHONE OR FAX, EMAIL FOR FURTHER EXPLAINATION. THANKS AND GOD BLESS.

YOURS SINCERELY,
MR, KENNETH JACOBS.
BRITISH RED CROSS.
AID RELIEF CO-ORDINATOR.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam