419 scam: Michelle Sanders <michellesanders70@gmail.com> READ N REPLY

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "million american 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: Michelle Sanders <michellesanders70@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2011 13:24:20 -0700
Subject: READ N REPLY

My name is Michelle Sanders, and I am the new IMF (International
Monetary Fund) payment officer to release your pending fund to you.
I am directed to deliver your fund to you in the form of cash delivery.
Your fund is sealed in a computeri(s)ed locked box which worth the
sum of $20 Million American Dollars (Twenty Million American Dollars).

Send me your full name, full mailing address, and also your contact
phone number for final verification before I move to deliver to your
home in person. Let me know the best time and date to deliver.

The delivery would only attract a total sum of $95, which has to be
sent to the payment information below before proceeding with the
delivery of consignment box.

Full Name: Michelle Sanders
Address: 810 Queensland Ave.
City: Flushing
State: New York
Zipcode: 11367
Amount: $95

Your money is sealed in a computeri(s)ed locked box and only you is
authorized to open the box when I deliver it to you which makes it
impossible for me to deduct the fee. The fee is required to release a
computeri(s)ed code which you will use to open your box when delivered
to your address, only you will be given the code for security reasons.
There is no other fee except this $95. Make sure you ignore anybody
requesting for more than $95 before releasing your fund to you.

Send the money through Western Union or Money Gram as soon as
possible. E-mail payment information once you make the payment so I
can move immediately. I am presently in Flushing, New York 11367 and
you can reach me through my cell phone (509) 592-9720.

I will proceed with the delivery immediately i receive your payment details.

Thank you,

Michelle Sanders.
International Monetary Fund.

International Monetary Fund made the following annotations
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electronic Privacy Notice. This e-mail, and any attachments, contains
information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications
privacy laws, and is also confidential and proprietary in nature. If
you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you are
legally prohibited from retaining, using, copying, distributing, or
otherwise disclosing this information in any manner. Instead, please
reply to the sender that you have received this communication in
error, and then immediately delete it.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam