419 scam: "Mr. Michel Freeman" <region@lth5.k12.il.us> Re: Russian Crude Oil Merchants

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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:

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)
- "million 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michel Freeman" <region@lth5.k12.il.us>
Reply-To: michelfreeman@e1.ru
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:08:55 -0600
Subject: Re: Russian Crude Oil Merchants

Dear Friend,

I understand that through Internet is not the best way to link up with
you because of the confidentiality which my proposal demands and Due
to Crisis we have in Russia after annexation of Crimea and the
sanctions that followed from United States European union.

I am Mr. Michel Freeman. I am the financial adviser to Vladimir
Yevtushenkov, who is the president and principal shareholder of AFK
Sistema, who was accused of money-laundering and placed under house
arrest by a Moscow court.

Coincidentally, if you can invest for my client who is presently
watched by Russian Government just because he is an opposition to the
dictator Russian president PUTIN, and this can lead to the seizure of
his company and Business Empire and this is why, my client is seeking
your expertise in investing over US$170 million dollars cash
discretely in diverse project. I have one concern / if I can trust you
with this top secret to invest this money for my client, if you
believe in democracy and a free world where people can express their
heart desire without being persecuted, that means you are the right
person to receive this funding from this type of investor, please
indicate by return email and we can discuss on the modalities of
getting this funds to you as the investor. Once I receive a message
from you notifying me of your interest, the details of the
transaction/the terms and condition of sharing regarding the business
would then be brought to your knowledge.

Contact me immediately you read this email.

Thank you.
Mr. Michel Freeman
michelfreeman@e1.ru

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam