419 scam: Thomas Barry <tom@baldanzi.net> FROM THE DESK OF: MR. THOMAS BARRY

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: Thomas Barry <tom@baldanzi.net>
Reply-To: thb683@yahoo.com.sg
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 19:45:53 +0100
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF: MR. THOMAS BARRY

INTER-CONTINENTAL DEBT RECONCILIATION DEPT
FROM THE DESK OF: MR. THOMAS BARRY
Date: 18/06/2015

'Transaction Code' AY2014-15 NG.

Attention Beneficiary

This Notice is brought to you from IMF world fund discovery management and payment bureau, this bureau was set up by the world bank and IMF to discover all outstanding payment being owned to Individuals all over the world through Inheritance and unclaimed contract payment. My name is Thomas Barry, resident representative of the Inter-continental debt reconciliation department and I am in charge to monitor and investigate fraudulent activities of some of the officials in charge of payments to beneficiaries from our central database unit. In line with this, I just discovered a floating fund approved in your name, but expected to be transfer to a designated account details below:

Bank Name: Bank of UBS AG
Address: CASE POST 2600.1211 GENEVE Switzerland 2
Account holder: Adrian Birger
Bank account no. USD: 76218060
Clearing: 0240
Bank SWIF T-BIC: UBSWCHZH80A
IBAN: CH26 0024 0240 7771 8060

Based on our investigation on your payment, TEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($ 10,500,000.00 USD) has been approved to be released to you via credit-card delivery but we found out that the signatures of the prosecution are different from the signature file in your payment file on my table. The introduction of the VISA Dual Currency Debit Card is predicated on the bank's desire to provide convenient means of payment to its customers regardless of where they may be. Also, a woman called (Kim McLachlan) came to our office with a letter of attorney stating that you gave her the power of attorney to act on your behalf in receiving the funds. She made us to believe that you are dead and that she is your next of kin. We got your email address and decided to send an email through this address hoping to find out if you are dead or alive and also to find out if you at any time gave this woman the power of attorney to receive your fund on your behalf. You are advised to urgently confirm to this office with the information as requested below so that we will be able to process the final release of your fund and to avoid false claim.

Please provide the below as you respond:

Your Full Names:
Your Home Address:
Your Home Telephone:
4 Your Mobile Phone:
5 Your Age and Sex:
Your Alternative E-mail Address:

We look forward to your urgent confirmation.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Thomas Barry
DIRECTOR INTER-CONTINENTAL
DEBT RECONCILIATION DEPT.

Anti-fraud resources:

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