419 scam: "Mrs. Janet Brown"<aminusanusi@mcom.com> PLEASE REPLY SOON

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "hundred thousand u.s 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Janet Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmpaymentdept@megamail.pt>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:13:20 -0800
Subject: PLEASE REPLY SOON

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write to inform you that your contact was found among the list of foreigners that have been scammed before by Fraudsters. It might interest you to know that we have signed an agreement with the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT during our meeting this year with our PRESIDENT and the FBI to fight against corruption by returning all contract funds that has been stolen, paying the people that had an unfinished inheritance transaction or International Fund Transfer that failed due to Government problems and also compensate scam victims.

Based on the above, an ATM MASTERCARD worth US$1,500,000.00 (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS) has been programmed in your name. You will use this card to withdraw your money in any ATM machine in any part of the world via our INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTION ACCOUNT (I.P.I.A), but the maximum is US$5,000.00 per day, so if you like to receive your fund this way please, for security reasons you are adviced to contact us, the card payment center and inform us on your willingness and readiness to pick up your ATM-CARD and reconfirm the following information ASAP.

Your full name:
Your address:
Your Phone number:
Your occupation:

We hereby advise you to stop any further dealings with any person(s) or office(s) regarding your payment except the above office, as a warrant will be served if you continue your dealings with these fraudsters. Failing to comply with this letter, will be going contrary to the Treasury Department ACT 772 (A) and 224 SUB 4 (A).

Regards,
Mrs. Janet Brown

For,
DR. MANSUR MUHTAR
DIRECTOR (CBN, IRD, AND ATM)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam