419 scam: MABEL JOHN <mabel.john4@btinternet.com> Please i expect your reply

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: MABEL JOHN <mabel.john4@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: mabeljohn27@yahoo.ca
Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 19:58:08 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Please i expect your reply

Dear Mr,

Hello! it is important i contact you, in brief i am Mr.Merit Maiga, I work at Versus bank CI. I am the manager foreign remittance department. We have a client by the name Eng.Haque, who died in the recent Haiti earth quake along with his whole family.Since there is no one left to inherit his account, i deem it preferable for you to come forth and inherit his account. please understand that the bank will have to take a decision to transfer the fund to bank treasury as the law here demands. The deceased customer deposited the sum of $16. Million united state dollars in fixed deposit at the bank.. Now please understand that the reason why i am contacting you is based on the fact that you hold the same last name with the deceased depositor as such you are the rightful beneficiary to his account. Now what is required is simple, you are to apply to the bank as beneficiary / next of kin to the decease (our customer). Upon your acceptance,

I will send you an application letter which you will forward to the bank. After the successful transfer of the funds by the bank, we shall split the money 50/50 equally and all expenses such as tax which your country will required from us shall be taken care of by us from the total funds after the successful transfer of the funds. I shall furnish you every information about this transaction so you have noting to fear of worry about. Your assistance and provision of an account suitable to receive the funds is highly needed. You can contact me via this email address for more clarification if there is any thing you do not understand before will start up this affair. Meanwhile to enable us proceed, you are to provide your full name, current address, occupation, date of birth and direct telephone/mobile number. this is essential to prepare the letter i mentioned above and for me knowing where to meet you to receive my part. I am waiting to hear from you
positively. Thanks.

Yours sincerely,
Mr.Merit Maiga

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam