419 scam: "Michael Cunningham"<Michael_Cunningham39383@gmail.com> RE: MATTER OF URGENT

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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Cunningham" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <Michael_Cunningham39383@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2022 15:12:40 -0800
Subject: RE: MATTER OF URGENT

Dear Sir / Madam

How are you ? In the bank where I work, We had a foreign customer, who deposited a huge amount of money with us, Valued Eighteen Million, Four Hundred Thousand United state Dollars ($18,400,000 USD) In 2017 the customer and his only son lost their lives in a car accident, With my position in the bank, it is very possible and very easy for us to claim the funds as his next of kin and beneficiary without any problem .

Please contact me through my direct email so that i will give you details on how we can get the funds transferred to your private account without any problem, as soon as you receive the money we shall share it P/ 50% all i want is your cooperation and assistance to get this transaction done, Remember the total amount would be transferred into an ATM Card and send to you in your country together with the pin code .

Regards,

Mr. Michael Cunningham

Head Of Operations.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam