419 scam: "Michael Ferguson"<office.office@gmail.com> Very Important

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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.

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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- michaelferguson680@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Ferguson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelferguson680@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2018 21:30:39 +0100
Subject: Very Important

Good day my Friend,

I am MICHAEL FERGUSON a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to MR. JOHANNES VAN DEN HENDE a Dutch national, who owed series of businesses here in America. Herein after shall be referred to as my client.

On the 18th of July 2014, my client MR. JOHANNES VAN DEN HENDE, his wife MS. SHALIZA ZAIN DEWA HENDE and their three children(PIERS, MARNIX and MARGAUX) Aged 15, 12, 8, were involved in the Malaysian MH17 flight which was shot down in Ukraine Russian border.

All occupants of the MH17 flight unfortunately lost their lives. Since after the death of my client and his family then I have made several inquiries to Dutch embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but was unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared Dormant and the depositor's fund sent to the Bank Treasury according to U.S.A Banking and financial law.

Particularly, the bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $6.2 million dollars…I have submitted a formal letter to the bank here in America informing them about the death of my client and I have been issued a notice to provide the next of kin by the bank…

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over Months now, I humbly seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at $6.2 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money 60% to me and 35% to you then 5% will be mapped out for reimbursement of any expenses incurred during the processing of the funds release to your bank account.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.

I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the state law. Please get in touch with me via my email and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further about this transaction.

Private E-mail:( michaelferguson680@gmail.com )

Best regards,
Barrister Michael Ferguson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam