419 scam: "Mr. steven Lee" <bfmail@meindowers.com> URGENT INHERITANCE CLAIM

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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:
- "million united states 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)
This email message is a next of kin 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.
- stevenlee48@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. steven Lee" <bfmail@meindowers.com>
Reply-To: stevenlee48@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 06 Jun 2010 03:20:00 -0400
Subject: URGENT INHERITANCE CLAIM

I am Steven Lee, one of the Director of HSBC Bank, London , United
Kingdom.On the 2nd of January 2005, I received a call that one of my
customer died in the Tsunami Disaster with his wife and only child
while on vacation at Phuket Island in Thailand . Since then I have
made several enquiries to locate any of my customer's extended
relatives and until datehave not succeeded. I have contacted you to
assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before it
gets confiscated by our bank or declared unserviceable by our bank
where this deposit is lodged.Now, the bank Directors has called a
board meeting regarding this Funds.

So my main motive right now is to share this great opportunity with
you by presenting you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since all his
banking details are with me as his personal Account Officer. And the
deceased Account valued at US$10,000.0000 (TEN Million UnitedStates
Dollars).Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the biological
relatives of my late client, I hereby seek your consent to present you
to the bank as next-of-kin of the deceased since you are a foreigner,
so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$10,000.000 can be
transferred to you as inheritance and thereafter, you and I can share
the money; 50% to me and 40% to you, while 10% will be donated to the
Tsunami Disaster Charity Fund.We shall start the first transfer with
US$5,000.000.00 (Five Million United States Dollars only), upon the
successful actualization of the first transfer without any
disappointment from your side, we shall re-apply for the payment of
the remaining amount to your account.

I have the original copy of Certificate of Deposit of the funds, which
will be used to substantiate our inheritance claims. All I require is
your consent and honest co-operation to enable us see the deal through
Furthermore, I guarantee that the transaction will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law.Please contact me if you are interested immediately via my
personal email to enable us commence on the transaction.
Email:stevenlee48@gmail.com

Best Regards,

Steven Lee

Anti-fraud resources:

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