419 scam: "GERALD WELSH" <info@mirle.cn> YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED!!!

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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.
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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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 orphan 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.
- gerawelsh@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "GERALD WELSH" <info@mirle.cn> (may be fake)
Reply-To: gerawelsh@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 08:31:37 +0800 (CST)
Subject: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED!!!

Dear,

I hope this message reaches you in good health.-- (Amen). To start with,
permit me to introduce myself to you. I am GERALD WELSH I am from Guinea.

My father Hon.Lansana Gerald Conte the director of Conte Timber Company
and the one time special adviser to the Minister of Natural Resources was
murdered by an opposition Leader during the previous Crisis in my country
(Republic of Guinea).

Before the death of my father(Hon.Lansana Conte) during the early stage of
the war of my country, he revealed a secret to my mother that he deposited
40Million USD as a family precious box with a security company in the
Republic of Ghana. He ask my mother and I to leave Guinea and come to
Ghana, where we can find refugee and have peace for our dear lives.

Having a meeting with my late father's Ghanaian lawyer, he told my mother
and I that all vital documents as regards to the deposit and claim of this
consignment in the security company was handed over to him by my late
father.

We went to the security company for the claim of this consignment but we
could not make the claim due to my father's laid down will for me to
consult by his foreign business partner before the release of the
consignment which my father did not disclose to us before his untimely
death.

Now as the next of kin and the only surviving child who is presently with
my mother(Mrs.Marry Conte) in the United Nations refugee camp(Bujumbura)
Ghana, i seek for your humanitarian assistance to enable us claim this
consignment in your name as the foreign beneficiary and help us receive
this family precious box(consignment) in your country while you invite me
over to you for the sharing and investment in a lucrative production or
business in your country as it
is the laid down instruction by my late father for me to consult his
foreign partner who will guide me in the investment in his country due to
Africa political crisis and instability in the African economy.

Mistrust is like an axe on the tree of partnership but since only God
could ordain trust, I will be very grateful to Him to build up such a
relationship with you in accordance to his will.

I promise you with all sincerity and a heart full of thankfulness to God
that I shall give you all true love and respect and I would be grateful to
God the almighty if you will be kind, understanding and trustworthy enough
to help get a better life.

I promise to give you 20% of the total fund and 15% per-annul in the
investment as your benefit of assisting me a young refugee and a
fatherless child attains a better life.

Contact Email: (gerawelsh@gmail.com)

God bless as I expect your reply and thanks in advance.

My mother extends her greetings
Sincerely,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam