419 scam: "Mrs. Maureen Mbe." <off---fiess2@att.net> My Dear Best Friend

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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:
- "million us 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)
- ",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)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
- +2348023842508 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- rev_father_perteuba123@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Maureen Mbe." <off---fiess2@att.net>
Reply-To: rev_father_perteuba123@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 14:19:14 -0800 (PST)
Subject: My Dear Best Friend

My Dear Best Friend,
Â
How are you today? Itâ€™s been long I heard from you. Well, I just want to use this medium to thank you very much for your earlier assistance to help me in receiving the funds, without any positive outcome.
Â
I am obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the funds with the help of a new partner from Germany. Everything was perfectly done because we strike a deal with one of the Lady accountant who works with the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) and she rendered a tremendous help to us. My new partner initiated this idea and everything worked out successfully.
Â
In appreciation of your earlier assistance to me in receiving the Funds. I have decided to compensate you with the sum of $3,000,000.00 (Three Million US Dollars) this is from my own share. I did this simply to show you that it is good to do good things to the right people always. Presently, I am in Germany for investment project with my own share under the advice of my partner, your fund is into ATM CARD so contact my secretary about that to send it to you.
Â
Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds despite that it failed us somehow. I will be sending you e-mail from time to time to know if you have received your share or not.
Â
Now contact my personal secretary in Nigeria.
Name: Rev. Father Peter Uba.
Address: No 4 Ikeja drive dolphins Lagos-Nigeria
Email: rev_father_perteuba123@yahoo.co.jp
phone: +234-80-238-42508.
Â
please do let me know immediately if you receive your AMT card so that we can share the joy together after all the sufferings at that time. In the moment, I am very busy here in Germany because of the investment projects, which the new partner and I are having at hand. So feel free to get in touch with Rev. Father Peter Uba to send the money to you without any delay.
Â
With My Best Regards,
Mrs. Maureen Mbe.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam