419 scam: "Col. Tom Kurlick"<admin@7br.com.br> I am Colonel Tom Kurlick,

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- tomkurlick_tom@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Col. Tom Kurlick" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tomkurlick_tom@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:19:06 +0800
Subject: I am Colonel Tom Kurlick,

Dear Sir/Madam ,

I am Colonel Tom Kurlick, a native of Memphis of the U.S state of Tennessee. I am actually looking at investing about five million dollars

with a short term investment plan in your country of residence and will appreciate a concise business proposal in enabling me have a clear

insight on your line of choice.

I had recently served as an Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team chief (EPRT) and Deputy Commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry

Division in Baghdad, Iraq. At this point i need a humble sincere indivudual whom will act as my investment manager and channel my funds to

a very lucrative business field.

I await your prompt response to this regards.

Thanks,

Col. Tom Kurlick
tomkurlick_tom@aol.com
Fort Riley, Kansas

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam