419 scam: "Mr. Michael W.T. Brown" <michaelbrowns@multichoic.org> FROM THE DESK OF: MR. MICHAEL W.T. BROWN (TREAT AS CONFIDENTIAL)

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
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.
- michaelwtbrown@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael W.T. Brown" <michaelbrowns@multichoic.org>
Reply-To: michaelwtbrown@accountant.com
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2016 10:23:40 -0400
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF: MR. MICHAEL W.T. BROWN (TREAT AS CONFIDENTIAL)

FROM THE DESK OF: MR. MICHAEL W.T. BROWN
CHIEF EXECUTE (NED BANK)
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +27- 63 821 7667.
Email: michaelwtbrown@accountant.com

URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Greetings,

Naturally, this letter will come to you as a surprise since we have not
met, permit me however. It is with deep sense of honour and respect that
I humbly make this appeal to you with the understanding that any fact/s
or opinion/s expressed in this letter is given in confidence and solely
for your personal information and use. I am Afraid many things are going
on now in the internet which is the only way I think I can get this
issue solved but If it does not interest you, disregard the mail but if
it makes sense to you, I open my arms wide to do business with you.

I am Mr. Michael W.T. Brown, I am the Chief Executive of NED Bank of
South Africa, I got your details from the business network here in South
Africa, and I am assured that you are very capable and honest to
transact this business with me.

Few yrs.â€™ ago, I used an unclaimed fund {$100 million USD} whose owner
has died since 14yrs ago and no one has come to claim the money. I
secretly invest the fund in a high interest program in the Swiss bank,
it ran for 7 years and I made a profit of $10million USD. I have stopped
the program and have returned the capital back to our bank, now itâ€™s
this $10 million USD profit I made which is in an escrow account in our
bank, but I will like us to pull the interest I made from the investment
and transfer it out of South Africa to your country. All I have to do is
to name you as the beneficiary and have it transferred to any bank
account of your choice.

I don't know who to contact, that is why I contacted you today, I will
need you to partner with me and provide an account where I can wire
transfer this fund and as soon as you have received it in your bank
account, I will fly over to meet you. I will give you 40% of the money
for your help and I will take 60% too. This is 100% risk free as I
legitimately acquired the fund.

If you are interested in this transaction, please do not hesitate to get
back to me ASAP. via my email or my telephone number.

Thank you

Mr. Michael W.T. Brown
Tel: +27- 63 821 7667.
Email: michaelwtbrown@accountant.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam