419 scam: Mr Thomas Arthur my subject

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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.

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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Thomas Arthur
Reply-To: thomasarthur12@outlook.com
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 19:08:21 +0100
Subject: my subject

Good day
My name is Thomas Arthur and I work with the finance house here in
London. I found your address through my countries international Web
directory. During our last meeting and examination of the bank accounts in the Netherlands, my department found a dormant account with an
enormous sum of US$ 16,500,000.00 (Sixteen million five hundred thousand
US dollar) which was deposited by late Mr. Willie Berg from Sweden.

Before his death he transferred the sum of US$ 16,500,000.00 (Sixteen
million five hundred thousand US dollar) to a bank in Netherlands. From
our investigation he had no beneficiary or next of kin to claim these
funds.

Because of our financial house regulations only one foreigner can stand as
next relatives or next of kin. The request of a foreigner as a next of kin
is based on the fact that the depositor was a foreigner and somebody in
the Netherlands cannot stand as the next of kin.I need your permission as
the next relative or next of kin of our deceased customer, so that the
funds can be released and transferred to your account, at the end of the
transaction 40% will be for you and 60% will be for me and my colleagues.

We need a foreign account. I still work at the financial house and that's
the actual reason that I need a second party or person, to stand and work
with me and apply to the bank in the Netherlands as the next of kin. I
have in my possession all the necessary documents to have this transaction
carried out successfully.

Further information will be provided upon the receipt of your prompt
response and I want you to know that there is no risk involved. I will
need us to work together if you are interested and I assure you that I
will provide all useful information and documentation as this business
needs urgent attention as there is no much time to waste.
Kindly Write me directly with your Name, Address, telephone and fax number
so I can explain the procedures.
Regards
Thomas Arthur

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam