419 scam: "Mr. Mark Martinelli"<martinelli1101@yahoo.com.ph> RESPOND ASAP.

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
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.
- martinelli1101@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Mark Martinelli"<martinelli1101@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:37:13 +0400
Subject: RESPOND ASAP.

Greetings

My name is Mark, I work with a Bank as the auditing general manager and also resides in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I have interest investing in your country as well as seeking your service/assistance in private and confidential matter, I am the Auditing general manager heading Audit department here in our bank, on my routine inspection, I discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a Balance of Seventeen and a half million US Dollars [$17.5 Million USD], therefore, I write to seek your indulgence and assistance in transferring this fund to your country through legal means.

I am proposing to make this transfer to a designated bank account of your choice in your country for investments and also give you 50% share of the fund for your unconditional assistance in the transaction. Please write me back for further details and let me know if you can handle it with extreme confidentiality.

Regard,

Mark

Email: martinelli1101@yahoo.com.ph

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam