419 scam: "Mike Lenn"<amanda@everunion.com.tw> DO GET BACK IF INTERESTED

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "million 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- mike.lennnings@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mike Lenn" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mike.lennnings@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2017 01:58:56 +0200
Subject: DO GET BACK IF INTERESTED

Hello

I am Mr Michael Lennings, an Audit Officer, PNC bank here in
U.S.A. I believe it is the wish of God for me to come across you
now. I have been in search of someone with this last name ,so
when I saw you online, I was pushed to contact you and see how
best we can assist each other. I am having an important business
discussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest
you, because it is in connection with your last name and you are
going to benefit from.

One Late Jeremiah, a citizen of your country had a fixed deposit
with my bank in 2005 for 108 calendar months, valued at US$30,
000,000.00 (Thirty Million United State Dollars) the due date for
this deposit contract was last 22nd of January 2015. Sadly jerry
was among the death victims in the May 27 2006 Earthquake
disaster in Java, Indonesia that killed over 5,000 people. He was
in Indonesia on a business trip and that was how he met his end.
My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about
it because he was my friend and I am his account officer. Jeremiah
did not mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when the account
was opened, and he was not married and no children. Last week my
Bank Management requested that Jeremiah should give instructions
on what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract. I know
this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means
to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to
know that Jeremiah is dead and do not have any Heir, they will
take the funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to
happen. That was why when I saw your last name I was happy and I
am now seeking your co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/
Heir to the account, since you have the same last name with him
and my bank head quarters will release the account to you.

There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under
a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
law. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank
Directors to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy
person, so I am suggesting we share the funds equal, 50/50% to
both parties, my share will assist me to start my own company
which has been my dream. Let me know your mind on this and please
do treat this information as TOP SECRET. We shall go over the
details once I receive your urgent response strictly through my
personal Email mike.lennnings@gmail.com
Have a nice day and God bless. Anticipating your communication.
Regards

Regards,
Mr. Michael Lennings
Senior Auditor Officer,
PNC Bank

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam