419 scam: "Mark Burgess" <mburgess@southpointcapital.com> BUSINESS LETTER FROM MARK BURGESS

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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:
- ",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: "Mark Burgess" <mburgess@southpointcapital.com>
Reply-To: mburgess@mail2world.com
Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 10:04:17 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS LETTER FROM MARK BURGESS

Sir,

With warm heart I offer my friendship, and greetings, and I hope this mail meets you in good time.

However strange or surprising this contact might seem to you as we have not met personally or had any dealings in the past, I humbly ask that you take due consideration of its importance and immense benefit. I duly apologize for infringing on your privacy; if this contact is not acceptable to you First and foremost I wish to introduce my self properly to you.

I am Mark Burgess I work with First Fiduciary Investment UK and would like to make a deal with you if the offer will be interesting to you for possible execution.

I have an Investor's Account with a closing balance of US$12,500,000.00 placed under my Portfolio for Management and Administration. This Investor died 6 years ago and he has no wife and children to inherit the aforementioned funds as stated herein. I therefore would like to present you with a Proposal on how you can be made the Inheritor for possible claiming and evacuation of the funds without Legal Implication attached. Our Sharing Ratio in this transaction will be considered 50:50.Should you be interested, you are hereby advised to send me your Direct Telephone Numbers for discussion of this offer in full details.

Thank you.

Kind Regards,
Mark Burgess

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam