419 scam: Cousin Miller <cousin1@faithserve.com> Cousin Miller

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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:
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- cousin.miller1990@hotmail.fr (Hotmail, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: Cousin Miller <cousin1@faithserve.com>
Reply-To: cousinmill@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 07:41:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Cousin Miller

Cousin Miller
Abidjan Ivory Coast
West Africa

Hello Partner,

How are you today, I know my mail will meet you with a lot of surprise why it is you and where I get your contact. My name is Cousin Miller The child of Mr. Wanda Miller. l am an orphan having $8,800,000 USD with a private trust company for safe keeping. I am willing to offer you 10% of the total fund if you can assist me transfer this fund to your country or any bank of your wish. I wish to invest in a stable economy. My interest is in companies with potentials for rapid growth in long terms.

This is a confidential transaction and must be kept secret as my uncles are after my life over this inheritance and I happened to be only that have the knowledge where the money was deposited today.

I am interested in placing my fund in your country, if your
countryâ€™s bi-laws allow foreign investment.
You can contact me for more details via my e-mail address with your
reference cousin.miller1990@hotmail.fr

This fund I inherited from my late father who excels as a government contractor till his death by the rebels in 2007 in here in the country capital while I lost my mother at my early age of 2 yrs this made me the only child of the family.

Donâ€™t fail to indicate interest by furnishing me with your private details phone, fax, address, occupation and age.

Yours faithfully,
Cousin Miller

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam