419 scam: "SGT CHRIS BRAND"<sgtchrisbrandd@yahoo.com.ph> PLEASE GET BACK!

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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:
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "there is no risk involved" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "SGT CHRIS BRAND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgtchrisbrand@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:49:10 -0800
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK!

Hello,

My name is Sgt. Chris Brand; I am an American soldier with Swiss background, serving in the military with the army's 3rd infantry division. With a very desperate need for assistance, I have summed up courage to contact you. I found your contact particulars in an address journal. I am seeking your kind assistance to move the sum of (35,000,000.00 US) Thirty Five million United States Dollars to you, as far as I can be assured that my share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here in Libya, this is no stolen money, and there is no danger involved.

Source of money:
Some money in various currencies was discovered in barrels at a farmhouse near one of Muammar Gaddafi palace in Al-Bayda-Libya during a rescue operation, and staff Sgt Kenneth Buff and I took part of this money and shared before informing anybody about it since both of us saw the money first agreed on it. This was quite an illegal thing to do, but I tell you what, no compensation can make up for the risk we have taken with our lives in this hellhole of which a road side bomb killed my brother in-law last week.

Basically, since we are in government service and we are not allowed to have or keep discovered looted funds around us, we have decided to look for someone to help us relocate and keep this funds for us, that is why I have contacted you, so that you can keep it for us in your safe account or custody untill we complete our foreign service in Libya.

You will take 40%, 60% will be for me and my partner.This business is confidential, and it should not be discussed with anyone. There is no risk involved whatsoever as it is only me and my partner that knows the present location of the money.

My job is to find a good partner that we can trust and that will assist us. Can I trust you? To ensure confidentiality, when you receive this letter,kindly reply me via e-mail:signifying your interest including your phone and fax numbers for quick communication and also your physical locational address.

Respectfully,

Sgt Chris Brand.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam