419 scam: "Mr. Mike Ikoku"<info@admin.org> US$1,500,000.00 CERTIFIED INT'L BANK DRAFT

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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
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.
- alextaylor089@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Mike Ikoku" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alextaylor089@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 09:58:30 -0600
Subject: US$1,500,000.00 CERTIFIED INT'L BANK DRAFT

Hello Dear,

I have received the check from bank three days ago and kept the check with Alex Taylor as we discussed. Please mail him immediately to send the check to you.

I am in Madrid for tour, I kept the $1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) cashier check with Alex Taylor and will send you the rest of money after my business trip here. I send you so many mails but all prove abortive. So mail Alex Taylor with below email for him to send the check to you: { alextaylor089@gmail.com}. Thanks and do let me know when you receive your money and forward the below details along when making contact with him.

1. FULL NAME:___________________

2. ADDRESS:___________ __________

3. E-MAIL ADDRESS:______________

4. TELEPHONE NUMBER:_________________

5: OCCUPATION: _____________________

Hoping to hear from you.

Thanks and God bless you and your family.

Mr. Mike Ikoku

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam