419 scam: "Martin Sean"<stephenlynch@wanadoo.co.uk> I need your assistance pleaseED !!!10 Prof. Robinson GPŒë¸"

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:

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:
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
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.
- martinsean111@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Martin Sean" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <martinsean111@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:46:07 -0700
Subject: I need your assistance please

Good Day,

I am Mr. Martin Sean the Director in charge of Auditing section of HSBC in Malaysia.

Am sorry if this message comes to you as a suprise. I have decided to contact you on a project that will be beneficial to both of us.

During our auditing in this Bank, I came across some amount of fund laying in wait here, and when i carried out my investigation, I discovered that it was an overdraft that was perfected by the formal Auditor whom i took over the office from, he was unable to move out this huge sum of money due to the urgency that was attatched to his dismissal from the office. And the said fund is ( SEVEN MILLION ONE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS. )

I am in search of a reliable person who can put a claim on this fund, so that it will be transferred to his / her account for both of us to use it for an Investment purpose, right now i have successfully moved the fund to an escrow Account in one of the Local Banks here in Malaysia. Upon your acceptance to carry on this task more information will be made known to you.

Please you have been adviced to keep "top-secret" as I am still in service and intend to retire from service after i conclude this deal with you. i will fly down to your country or any place we shall agreed on for subsequent negotiation regarding the investment and it's benefits immediately this fund has being transferred into your designated Bank Account.

Upon your acceptance to this proposal, kindly get back to me via this e-mail martinsean111@gmail.com

I look forward to recieve your urgent reply.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Martin Sean.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam