419 scam: "MR TIMOTHY HICKS"<jeremiah@arthurmurrayroyaloak.com> STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSALs.............

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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)
- "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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR TIMOTHY HICKS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <th99445323@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:05:12 +0100
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSALs.............

Dear Sir/Madam,

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate belonging to my late client that share the same surname (WITHHELD) with you. I wish to notify you that the Deceased made his “WILL” to any lucky member of his family as the Beneficiary to his EPISTLE (WILL) before his death. The sum of £7,200,000.00 (Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) this fund was released as payment on oil spillage contract awarded by the British Petroleum.

He died of a drug (CASODEX) poisoning on Sunday, the 25Th day of March, 2012 at about 9:45 Pm after taking some dose of his usual drug (CASODEX) which autopsy later proved that it was poisoned by unknown means. This drug is for his cancer treatment because he was suffering from prostate cancer for over 15 years.

Please if I reach you this time as I am hoping, Endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to be hearing from you in no distant time. Thank you.

Regards,

QXIT LOOPER.

ATTORNEY AT LAW (ESQ).
GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE (GRO)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam