419 scam: "James Bruyce"<jambruyce@hotmail.com> I'm soliciting your assistance my good 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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- jambruyce@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "James Bruyce" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jambruyce@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2016 01:09:27 +0100
Subject: I'm soliciting your assistance my good friend

Hi,

Pardon me for intruding your privacy, I'm soliciting your assistance to utilise an Investment Trustee Funds of
a bereaved customer at our bank. He died without a WILL neither did he declare any next of kin/trustee
beneficiary.

If there is no WILL, the court decides who gets the assets and entire estate can be forfeited to the State
where no surviving heirs or beneficiary are found! With the help of my attorney, we have figured out a plan
that will work. A Change of Beneficiary name to yours and affidavit from court.

If you will pledge me your help l will be glad, please provide the following;

1. Full Names
2. Address
3. Cell phone/home line.

I’m awaiting your reply.

Yours truly,
James Bruyce
jambruyce@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam