419 scam: "CAPTAIN BRIAN ALAN APPEL"<mtcn.wu@mycin.net> URGENTLY TODAY

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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:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- flxa@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "CAPTAIN BRIAN ALAN APPEL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <clifet90112@mycin.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 16:58:32 +1000
Subject: URGENTLY TODAY

I am a captain Brian Alan Appel with the United Nations troop in Iraq,on war against terrorism.

find attach copy of my pictures in Iraq.

Based on the United States legislative and executive decision for withdrawing troops from Iraq come next year,I have been deployed to come and work in your country's military base soonest.Our mission is to help beef up terrorist targeted states,mostly the United states and the European Union on the war against terrorism.I will need a car for myself and that is why i contacted you.

On the other hand I want to inform you that I have in my possession the sum of $ 267 Million United State of America Dollars. which i got from crude oil deal here in Iraq.

I deposited this money with a WORLD SECURITY COMPANY informing him that we are making contact for the real owner of the money.It is under my power to approve whoever comes forth for this money.I want to invest the money in your country as soon as I am deployed into your conutry for a good bussines, anyway you will advice me on that since I am not a bussiness person. I cannot move this money to the United states because I will be in europe for about 3 years,so I need someone I could trust.If you accept,I will transfer the money to you where you will be the beneficiary because I am a uniformed person and I cannot be parading such an amount so I need to present someone as the beneficiary.

I am an American and an intelligence officer for that so I have a 100% authentic means of transferring the money through diplomatic courier service .I just need your acceptance and all is done. BUT CAN YOU BE TRUSTED ?My life depend on this money...

Please if you are interested in this transaction I will give to you the complete details you need for us to carry out this transaction successfully.

I decided to find someone that is real and not imaginary and that is why I went to a secured car site where I can be sure that the person is real. I believe I can trust you.

where we are now we can only communicate through our military communication facilities which is secured so nobody can monitor our emails,then I can explain in details to you.I will only reach you through email,because our calls might be monitored,I just have to be sure whom I am dealing with.

If you are interested please send me your personal mobile number so I can call you for further enquiries when I am out of our military network.I am writing from a fresh email account so if you are not interested do not reply to this email and please delete this message,( flxa@aol.com) if no response after 12 days I will then search for someone else.

I wait for your contact details so we can go on.In less than 5 days the money should have been noted on your account and I will come over for my money.I will give to you 30% of the sum and 70% is for me.

I hope I am been fair on this deal.

Get back to me with your full information:

YOUR FULL NAME: ..............................
COUNTRY : .....................................

Regards,
Captain Brian Alan Appel

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam