419 scam: "Mr. James Lee"<smlee577@gmail.com> GOOD DAY

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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:

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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
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.
- jmeslee77@yahoo.com.my (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. James Lee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jmslee77@asia.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2014 01:24:40 -1100
Subject: GOOD DAY

Dear Friend,

Good day to you. Before I introduce myself, I wish to inform you that this letter is not a hoax mail and I urge you treat it serious. I am Mr. James Lee, a citizen of Malaysia.

I write to seek your assistance. Some years back i made some investment in Canada and America through an investment agent, which business has been badly affected for the past years due to the economic situation. I have asked that the investment be liquidated and the money transferred to me so i could inject the funds into business here in Malaysia, but i was told by the contact, that for one reason and the other that they have a new policy not to transfer funds out for now.

Meanwhile, I wanted to travel to get the funds myself, but my doctor advice against it, that my present health condition will not allow such long distance trip. So i was told to provide an account in America or Canada or Someone to receive the funds on my behalf. Please let me know if you can receive the funds on my behalf and forward it to me, as this does not require any form of expertise or expenses from your end. Just your honesty and sincerity is all i need.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT YOU ARE NOT SPENDING ANY MONEY ON THIS AND I WILL OFFER YOU 10% OF THE MONEY YOU RECEIVE.

Let me know if you can handle this, once i receive your response i will forward you the information of the contact and make arrangement on how to receive the funds. Here is my private email ID for easy communication (jmeslee77@yahoo.com.my) I will be waiting to read from you to enable me gives you more details.

Yours Truly,
Mr. James Lee

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam