419 scam: "Dr/Mr. Michael Adams"<officemailcnter@officemailscentral.com> URGENT LETTER, READ CAREFULLY.

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
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.
- mrs_willstella18@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr/Mr. Michael Adams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs_willstella18@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 12:19:23 -0700
Subject: URGENT LETTER, READ CAREFULLY.

Compliment,

How are you doing. Hope you have not forgotten me, I am Dr/Mr.Michael
Adams, the man from Nigeria who contacted you some time ago to assist me
secure the release of some money accrued from the over invoicing of a
contract/inheritance that was awarded by my government some time ago
during the military regime. Though you were not able to asist me conclude
the transaction, I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those
funds transffered under the assistance and cooperation of a new partner
from Brazil.

Presently i'm in South Korea for investment projects with my own share of
the total sum. meanwhile, i didn't forget your past efforts and attempts
to assit me intransffering those funds, I made sure you are not left out
the benefit of the transaction hence I kept aside for you sum of Five
Million United State Dollar($5,000,000.00.) draft.

I and my new partner agreed to compensate you with that amount for all
your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I appreciated
your efforts at that time very much, so feel free and get in touch with my
secretary Mrs. Stella Williams. Please do let me know immediately when you
receive the Draft so that we share the joy together after all the
sufferness at that time. At the moment, i'm very busy here because of the
investment projects which me and my partner are having at hand.

Do contact my secretary immediately and she will let you know the steps to
follow before receiving your bank draft. Below is the contact of my secretary:

Mrs.Stella Williams
E-mail: mrs_willstella18@hotmail.com

Best Regard,
Dr/Mr. Michael Adams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam