419 scam: "Michael Stewart" <mcstewart002@gmail.com> Due to our earlier letter to you

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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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Stewart" <mcstewart002@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mcstewart02@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:04:24 +0800 (ULAT)
Subject: Due to our earlier letter to you

Attention,

Due to our earlier letter to you on behalf of the Trustees and Executors
to the WILL of our late client, I wish to notify you that you were listed
as a beneficiary to the total sum of Â£6,500,000.00 GBP (Six Million Five
Hundred Thousand British Pounds) in the codicil and last testament of the
deceased. Until his death, he was a very great philanthropist during his
life time. He died on the 9th January, 2007 at the age of 58.He was buried
on the 3rd of February 2007. Till now no next of kin or relative of any
kind has come for the claim.

Though he was a foreigner living and working here requested before his
death that he be buried here. We therefore reckoned that you can receive
these funds as you are qualified by your name identity. All the legal
papers will be processed on your response. In your acceptance of this
deal, We request that you kindly forward any proof of identity of yours,
your current telephone and fax numbers and forwarding address to enable us
file necessary documents at our high court probate division for the
release of this sum of money to you.

Yours Faithfully,
Attorney Michael Stewart

-----------------------------------------
ÐšÐžÐœÐŸÐ¬Ð®Ð¢Ð•Ð Ð˜Ð™Ð Ð¢Ð•Ð¥ÐÐ˜Ðš ÐœÐ•ÐÐ•Ð–ÐœEÐÐ¢Ð˜Ð™Ð Ð¡Ð£Ð Ð“Ð£Ð£Ð›Ð¬, MUST (ÐšÐ¢ÐœÐ¡).
Computer Science and Management School, Mongolian University of Science and Technology (CSMS).
Visit us at http://www.csms.edu.mn

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam