419 scam: "Bernard Russell"<BernardRu@aim.com> Let Me Know If Your 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- bernardrussel@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Bernard Russell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <BernardRussel@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 22:24:38 -0800
Subject: Let Me Know If Your Interested

Dear friend,

I assumes this E-Mail might be a surprise to you, but it is true.
I work with Standered chartered bank of south africa as an accountant, during
our routines i and my colleauge discovered an account of $14,300, 000 which was
not taken up.

This account belonged to Mr. Christian Eich, who was a customer in our bank,
which unfortunately died in a plane crash with his family. we need the
co-operation of a foreign partner like you.

you can read about it here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

30% of the total sum will be given to you while the remaining 70% is for me and
my colleagues. if you are interested, please send me an email with the
following, your full name, address and telephone number so we can send you more
details.
please note that this transaction is very confidential

my email address BernardRussel@aim.com

Yours sincerely

Bernard Russell

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam