419 scam: "Captain Michael Brown"<sdea1@outlook.com> from Captain Michael Brown

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- ",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)
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
- brownmichael978@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Captain Michael Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelbrown19880@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2014 12:00:18 -0700
Subject: from Captain Michael Brown

Hello,

My name is Michael Brown an American soldier serving in the Military of the 1st Armored Division in Afghanistan. As you know, we are being attacked by insurgents everyday and car bombings. Based on the United States legislative and executive decision for gradual troop withdrawal process in Afganistan, I have applied for honorable discharge based on the grounds of reduction in force (RI) as demanded by Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Without mincing words, I would want to confide in you that I have in my possession the sum of $10,500,000 USD ( Ten Million five hundred thousand Dollars) which was recovered from a mansion belonging to one of Sadam Hussein’s men who was a crude oil exporter but ran away with his oil loot to Afghanistan.

It is under my power to approve whoever comes forth for this money. I have this money stored somewhere in an abandoned mine in Kabul waiting for a moment like this to put the money in good use with the help of a reputable and sincere person for investment purposes. This is the reason for contacting you.

I am ready to compensate you with 20% of the funds.The only thing I require from you is just for you to help me receive this funds once i move the money out of Afghanistan because Afghanistan is a war zone and also am a uniform man i can not parade with such an amount.

I have already mapped out a strategy of using diplomatic means to move the money out of Afghanistan to your country as I shall inform the diplomat that the box contains your personal research materials.If you are interested I will send you the full details.Can I trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including the following information such as

(1) Your full names
(2) Your full address
(3) Your Direct Telephone number.
(4) Age And Occupation

In less than four days, the money with my box shall be in your possession. I shall provide you with the full details as soon as I receive your response.Right now I am very careful with the way I communicate so as to reduce any kind of risk until this money is finally in your custody.

I shall be communicating to you through email alone because our phone conversation might be monitored by unit bug,I am doing this on trust, so I would want you to put aside any act of greed or the thought of cheating as we have a lot to gain in this business relationship.

Reply via my private
Awaits your urgent response.
Regards,
Captain Michael Brown
Email:brownmichael978@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam