419 scam: "Harry Brooks"<electronicpayments@aici-sp.net> FYI

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447042072986 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- brooksharry1956@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Harry Brooks" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <brooksharry1956@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2017 11:59:22 -0700
Subject: FYI

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr Harry Brooks Jr, I am in charge of Accounting And Auditing with a Global Financial Company here in London.

I got your contact through a trade site.

I am a man of peace, married with two lovely kids. I never want problems in my life, it was just

because of my present financial situation that I have planned to utilize this opportunity that came

my way and I only hope you can assist me not to persecute me.

If you don`t want this proposal can you kindly forget that I ever contacted you? I will be glad you

did for the sake my job.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and I, am the Person in charge of

accounting And Auditing here in a Global Financial Company and it is my duty to send in a financial

report to my head office here in United kingdom at the end of each business year.

On the course of the last year 2016 business report, I discovered that my branch in which I am In

charge of made Eleven Million six Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds (GBP 11,600,000.00) which my

head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have placed this funds on what is called

ESCROW CALL ACCOUNT) with no beneficiary.

As an officer of my department in this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so my aim

of contacting you is to assist me receive this money in your bank account and get 40% of the total

funds as commission.

There are practically no risk involved, it will be a bank to bank transfer, all I need from you is to

stand claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my

head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.
If you accept to work with me I will appreciate it very much, please respond to me directly to my

personal e-mail address: brooksharry1956@yahoo.co.uk.

IT will be of a greater joy if you can call me on my number +447042072986

Thank you in advance and may God bless you and your family.

Yours truly,

Mr Harry Brooks Jr

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam