419 scam: "Mark Donaldson Jr." <donaldsonjr01@mark.co.uk> Urgent Please

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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)
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "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)
- "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +447024039527 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- donaldsonjr@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mark Donaldson Jr." <donaldsonjr01@mark.co.uk>
Reply-To: donaldsonjr@accountant.com
Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:01:39 +0200
Subject: Urgent Please

DEAR FRIEND:

First I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is by
virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret.
Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one
apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring that this is real and
genuine. I am Mr.Mark Donaldson Jr. From US, the head of auditing and
accounting manager NATWEST BANK LONDON.

I came to know you in my private search for a reliable and reputable
person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves the
transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum
confidence. MY PROPOSITION; During my audit exercise I discovered an
abandoned sum of £15 Million Great British Pounds (Fifteen Million
Great British Pounds ) in an account that belongs to one of our
customers a US Citizen (Engr. Luke Davidson) who died along with his
wife and only son on 20 Oct 2007, Air Tanzania safari plane crash.

Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward
to lay claims for this money as the heir. NATWEST BANK cannot release
the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the
next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines,
unfortunately, no family member nor relative has ever appeared to
claim the said fund. Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission
to have you stand as next of kin to the deceased so that the fund £15
Million Great British Pounds (Fifteen Million Great British Pounds)
can be released and paid into your account as the beneficiary's next
of kin otherwise the fund will be returned to treasury as unclaimed
funds and will be subsequently confiscated by the British government
at the expiration of five year duration.

All documents to enable you receive this funds will be carefully
worked out. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance
of our mutual business endeavor by furnishing me with the following;

(1) Your Full Name............................

(2) Your Sex.................................

(3) Your Age.................................

(4) Your Country..............................

(5) Passport / driving license.......

(6) Marital Status......................

(7) Your Occupation.........................
.
(8) Your Personal Mobile Number....................

(9) Your Personal Fax Number......................

These requirements will enable us file letters of claim to the
appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favor before
the transfer can be made.

I have agreed that our ratio of sharing will be as stated thus: On
final conclusion of this project, 50% of this shall be for me, while
45% shall be for you and the remaining 5% shall be used to compensate
either party for any expenses incurred. If this proposal is acceptable
by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust i have bestowed in
you, Please contact me via my private email: donaldsonjr@accountant.com

Regards,
Mark Donaldson Jr.
E-mail: donaldsonjr@accountant.com
Private Phone: +447024039527

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam