419 scam: "Michael Scott"<aiqing@chinacaec.com> Greetings.

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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 us 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)
- "can i trust you?" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Scott" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <scottmichael751@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2017 05:00:08 -0700
Subject: Greetings.

Dear Friend,

Greetings, I really wish to have you as a good friend and also wish to entrust some funds in your care, I have already move the funds out of Iraq. I need your sincere and truthful friendship. My name is Michael Scott, I am an american citizen working with Royal dutch Shell in Majnoon oil field Basra in Iraq

I have 6.5 Million US dollars that I successfully moved out of the country. I need a good partner, someone I can trust. It is oil business money we did with Iraqi citizens worth 45 million US dollars, but the 6.5 million us dollars stated is my share on the business and its legal. I have successfully moved the funds out of Iraq as family valuables with the help of GRYPHON SECURITY Company through their branch in Middle East.

The most important thing is ''' Can I Trust You? Immediately these funds get to you,you take your 30% out and keep my own 70%. Your own part of this deal is to find a safe place where my part of the funds will be until i am back from Iraq and meet with you for discussions on how I can investment my own part, but I have more interest on real estate or any other profitable investment

But the whole process is simple and we must keep a low profile at all times. I look forward to your reply and co-operation, and I thank you in advance as I anticipate your co-operation.

Thanks

Scott
Rep

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam