419 scam: BIRGIT Dear 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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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 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.
- captainjamesmn@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- you se= nd me a mail in my private email address (captainjamesmn@hotmail.com) so i = can give you more details. make sure u contact (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: BIRGIT
Reply-To: <captainjamesmn@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2015 03:04:02 +0530
Subject: Dear Friend,

I know this email will come as a surprise to you although it is with good m=
otive. Before I go any further, I want to share more about myself. My name =
is Captain James martins from Morton Grove, Illinois United States. I am an=
American Citizen currently serving in Afghanistan. I formally served in Ba=
ghdad Iraq in 2003. I=92m 37yrs old and I am an only child of both parents.=
My dad was a US marine before he passed away. My mom was a stay at home mo=
m and she passed away in October 1st 2007. The reason I contacted you is th=
at, I want you to help me receive a consignment (Box) that I deposited with=
a security company in Baghdad Iraq, The consignment (Box) contains 10milli=
on dollars. Please note that the security company does not know that the bo=
x contains money. I listed it as containing family belongings.. Anyway i th=
ink i should tell you how i came into possession of this money. In 2003, I =
was the one commanding the US 3rd Infantry Division in Baghdad, Iraq. On ou=
r raids of 23 and 26 April 2003 in Baghdad, we came across a huge amount of=
money in containers. Please visit ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/29=
88455.stm for confirmation of this story After we discovered the money, Me =
and five other officers hide some part of the money that we discovered and =
returned the rest to US Central command. I am going to be posted to your Lo=
cation in the coming months so I will be most thankful to God if you can re=
ceive the consignment from the security company on my behalf. I am offering=
you 3million while 6million is for me, then the remaining 1million for Cha=
rity Organization. I do pray and hope you are a honest person as I strongly=
believe honesty is the basis of any meaningful relationship trust reliance=
Assurance conviction Devotion loyalty faithfulness Commitment dedication o=
bservance. Note: All the documents used in lodging the consignment (Box) wi=
th the security Company are all in my possession. l will send them to you a=
s soon as you show your willingness to assist me in receiving the consignme=
nt from the security company. Let me know if you are interested then you se=
nd me a mail in my private email address (captainjamesmn@hotmail.com) so I =
can give you more details. Make sure u contact me on this Email: (captainja=
mesmn@hotmail.com) Thanks and God bless you. Yours Sincerely, Capt. James m=
artins=20

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam