419 scam: "Mike E. Smith"<mikes196086@yahoo.co.uk> Business Proposal.

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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.

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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- mikes196@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mike E. Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mikes196@rocketmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Jul 2013 23:39:46 +0200
Subject: Business Proposal.

Good Day

I must first tender an apology for this unsolicited mail to you. I am conscious that this is certainly not a proper manner of approach to foster a relationship of trust but because of the circumstances and urgency surrounding this venture I decided to reach you via this medium to join me put claims on this fund before it is seized or confiscated by the authorities. I got your contact information through the public records while searching for a similar name to our late client, a Business Magnate that lived in Spain for Nineteen years but died with family during the TSUNAMI in INDONESIA and BALI that occurred in December 2004. Do not be amazed by this letter, I am contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality that is attached to this transaction.

Before the catastrophe; the sum of $18.4M (EIGHTEEN MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) was deposited with our bank and as the Auditor General of the Bank, the Board of Directors mandated me to present a member of the family (heir/inheritor) to make claims or the funds will be confiscated and taken to the Bureau as unclaimed. I was given an ultimatum to look for a relative to come for the claim or have the funds liquidated by the Spanish Government and made unserviceable in accordance with existing Spanish law in [ARTICULE 104B].

After preliminary efforts of search for a direct family member which came to no avail, I decided to contact you. My suggestion is that I will like to present you as the beneficiary to this fund, I know you may not be anyway related to my late client but there is a possibility that the fund will be released to you. I guarantee that if you are willing and interested, I will put all in place in accordance with the Law to legally present you as the Next of Kin and true beneficiary.

This transaction is 100% risk free a s I have worked all out to complete the operation effectively. Once this funds is released to you, it will be shared in the ratio of 40% for you, and 60% for me as our benefit. Each ($7.4 Million for you) and ($11.04 Million for me), kindly indicate your interest by mail to my private email: mikes196@rocketmail.com for more information. Please endeavour to get back to me whether you are willing to collaborate with me or not so that I can further my search for another partner.

I wait for your prompt response.

Kindest Regards,
Mike E. Smith.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam