419 scam: "Mr. Michael Jones"<ack@telefonica.net> Re: Hello,

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "michael.jones@attijaricontinentalsn.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +221707053424 (Senegal, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Jones" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaeljones992@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 10:16:09 +0200
Subject: Re: Hello,

From Mr. Michael Jones.
Senior Staff In File Department,
Attijariwafa Bank
Dakar-Senegal
West Africa.

(“REMITTANCE OF $15 MILLION U.S.A DOLLARS CONFIDENTIAL IS THE CASE")

(READ CAREFULLY AND KEEP SECRET)

Dear Friend,

I am (Mr. Michael Jones) A Senior Staff In File Department in Attijariwafa Bank (A.B.S) Senegal West Africa, I want to inquire from you if you can handle this transaction for mutual benefits/life opportunity for you and me. The transaction is about seeking your consent to present you as the next of kin/ beneficiary of the US$15 MILLION DOLLER, (FIFTEEN MILLION U.S DOLLARS), which belongs to one of our customer here in my bank.

He died in a Kenya plane crash 2003, with his family during their vacation journey. The Fund is currently in a suspense account awaiting claim, the bank made a public notice that they are ready to release this fund to any of his relatives abroad.

THEREFORE, by virtue of its nature as being utterly CONFIDENTIAL, top secret should be maintained please!, because i am still in the active service i do not need any form of implication especially now I’m in the verge of my retirement to endanger my career at last!..

Since we got the information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines and laws.

In that regard, i decided to seek your consent for this prospective opportunity. Have it at the back of your mind, that the transaction does not involve any RISK, and does not need much engagement from you, since I am familiar with this kind of transaction being an insider... Necessary modalities will be worked out to enable us carry out the fund claim under a legitimate arrangement. I have resolved to offer you 30% of the total fund, 10% for sundry expenses that may be incurred during the process of executing this transaction and 60% percent for me.

I will give you more details about the transaction when I receive your affirmative response. NOTE: You should contact me immediately as soon as you receive this letter on my privet phone number +221-707-053-424. Your full names, telephone/fax number, mailing address, age and occupation would also be needed asap based on trust on honesty.

Please get in touch with me by my private email: (michael.jones@attijaricontinentalsn.com) for security reason.

Best Regards.

I look forward to your positive response.

Thank you.
Mr. Michael Jones.

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