419 scam: "Mr Malcolm Miller"<malcolm.miller@yahoo.com> Good day

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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate fee" (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. )
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "walterstevensrep@sbcglobal.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Malcolm Miller" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <walterstevensrep@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:45:36 -0400
Subject: Good day

Good day,

Greetings to you and your family.I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft of $550.000.00 United States Dollars, but no

response was receive from you ever since that time then I went ahead and deposited the Draft with UPS COURIER SERVICE, West Africa.

I travelled out of the country for a 3 Month Course and I will not be back till end of October 2010. I will advise you to contact the UPS COURIER SERVICE as soon

as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date of your draft.

I just want to inform you that i have paid the delivering Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Check showing that it is not a

Drug Money.

The only fees you will be sending to UPS COURIER SERVICE to deliver your draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($150.00 USD) only and this

fees is for the "Security Keeping Fee" of your bank draft. Again, don't be deceived by anyone to pay any other fees except $150.00USD.

I would have paid that security keeping fees but UPS COURIER SERVICE said "NO" because they don't know when you will get in contact with them and in case of

demurrage.You have to contact the UPS COURIER SERVICE office holding your package now for the delivery of your draft with the information below:

Contact Person: Mr Walter Stevens
Email: walterstevensrep@sbcglobal.net

Finally, make sure that you re-confirm your Postal address and direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery of your draft to

you and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package over there and know when it will get to your doorstep. Let me repeat

again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this email to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $150.00

Dollars for their immediate action.

You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your bank draft.

Yours Faithfully,
MR Malcolm Miller

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam