419 scam: Helen Bruce <mike_yong74@yahoo.com> get back to me

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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
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.
- mike_yong74@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Helen Bruce <mike_yong74@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:29:45 -0600
Subject: get back to me

--
Attn: Sir/Madam

This Is To Officially Inform You That We Have Verified Your
Contract/Inheritance Payment File And Discovered Reasons Why You Are Not Yet
Paid. It Is Because Of The Irregularities And Complications Discovered On Your
Payment File By Our Technical Experts. In Which Some Of Our Corrupt Officials
Have Used As An Advantage On Reaping Off Most Of Our Beneficiaries At The Past
In Respect Of Helping Them To Receive Their Contract /Inheritance Fund Which
Have Just Been Duly Rectified.

Meanwhile, We Have Been Informed That You Are Still Dealing With Impostors And
Non Recommended Officials In The Bank. Such Acts Must Stop For
Security Reasons
If You Wish To receives Your Payment. Since We Have Decided To Bring A
Solution
To Your Problem, Right Now We Have Arranged Your Payment Through Our affiliate
Atm Swift Card Payment Section Intercontinental Bank Plc (Under
Federal Reserve
Operational DEC 2009), And This Has Been The Latest Instruction By The
President, Umaru Musa Yar'adua (GCFR) Federal Republic Of Nigeria.
Below Is The
Procedures.

The Swift Card Section Will Send You An Atm Card Which You Will Use To
Withdrew
Your Fund From Any Atm Machine In Any Part Of The World, But The Maximum Limit
Is Ten Thousand Dollars Per Day, So If You Welcome This Method Of Payment
Please Do Let Us Know By Contacting Rev Ikechukwu Okpara The Card Payment
Section Intercontinental Bank Plc On Email (mike_yong74@yahoo.com) .And Also
Send The Following Information To Swift Card Section.

1 Phone And Fax Number,
2 Address Where You Want Them To Send The Card Through Diplomatic Courier
Service (P.O box Not Accepted)
3 Your Full Name And Total Amount You Are Expecting.

Please Indicate To The Atm Card Section The Total Sum You Are
Expecting And For
Your Information You Have To Stop Any Further Communication With Any
Institution Or Office Until You Receive The Atm Card.

Note: Because of Impostors, We Hereby Issue You Our Code of Conduct Tag Number
Which Is (1809) So You Must Have To Indicate This Code When Contacting
The Card
Center.
We Await Your Urgent Response.

Mrs. Helen Bruce
Special Adviser To The President
Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Correo Electronico, Gobierno del Distrito Federal.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam