419 scam: jamesbrain97 <jamesbrain97@gmail.com> URGENT REPLY

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (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 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.
- jamesbrain913@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: jamesbrain97 <jamesbrain97@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 03:39:13 -0700
Subject: URGENT REPLY

Dear Friend,

I am James Brain., a private military contractor attached to the army force
in Afghanistan.

On the 27th day of December 2012, I and my late friend discovered a metal
box containing US Dollars, which is a total figure mark $8.2 Million. We
believe the box was owned and linked to late Syed Muhammad.

We hid the box containing the money in untraceable location, and
fortunately we got a reliable and trusted Red Cross officer who received
and assisted us in securing the box containing the US Dollars which is
presently deposited in a security company. We can't afford to leave the box
there for any reason since we do not know much about the country, we have
no idea what could happen next as our withdrawal from Afghanistan remains
inconclusive at this point.

I am fully aware of what your thought would be; as soon as i receive your
response I will forward you my picture as well as my Identity, for you to
know who you are dealing with, and i need your full names, contact details
and ID, it will be forward to the Red Cross officer for delivery after i
might have concluded with him.

You will be compensated with 30% of this fund, please assure me of your
handling this transaction and keeping this topmost secret so that my job
would not be jeopardized.

Regards,
Mr.James Brain
Reply to: jamesbrain913@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam