419 scam: MR TONY BROWN <mrtonybrown44@googlemail.com> Hello My Good Friend

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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 pounds" (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 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.
- mrtonybrown90@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: MR TONY BROWN <mrtonybrown44@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: mrtonybrown90@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:52:59 +0200
Subject: Hello My Good Friend

MR.TONY BROWN
70 Uplands drive,
Markfield,Leicestershire,
London LE56 2WF
Direct Email:mrtonybrown90@gmail.com

Hello My Good Friend,

I am Mr.Tony Brown ,an accountant with one of the reputable finance
company in united kingdom .I am also an accounts officer to late Mr
McGovern, who was a contractor with Shell International Petroleum
Co.Ltd here, On the 1st of April 2010, Mr McGovern and his wife and
their two Children were involved in a car accident along Kidsgrove
express-road.

All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.Since then
I have been trying to locate any of Mr.McGovern extended relatives,but
this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful
attempts, I decided to track his similar name over the Internet, to
locate any member of his family hence I contact you. I have contacted
you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by Mr McGovern
before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the finance
company.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for
over one year now. I seek your consent to present you as the next of
kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at
about 4.5million pounds can be paid to you and then you and me can
share the money.60% to me and 40% for you.

To enable us move further in this transaction, I shall need the
following information’s from you.

1) Your full name.
2) Your Address.
3) Marital Status.
4) Age.
5) Tel, Mobile and Fax numbers.
6) Profession.
7) Your Email Address

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal
through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. As soon
as I hear from you I will detail you on the process of the
transaction.Contact Me Through my Private Email
Address:mrtonybrown90@gmail.com For Details.

Have A Nice Day And God Bless.

Regards,
Mr.Tony Brown.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam