419 scam: "Mr Merna Fenn" <fenn004@att.net> CAN I TRUST YOU? CALL ME

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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:
- ",000,000" (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 next of kin scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045738769 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- dosar20221@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Merna Fenn" <fenn004@att.net>
Reply-To: <dosar20226@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 02:12:13 -0800
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU? CALL ME

Business (07/02/2011)

Dear Partner,

I am contacting you as a matter of urgency in transferring a huge amount
of £15,000,000.00(Fifteen Million Great British Pounds Sterling) I am only
contacting you to seek for your indulgence and assistance to receive this
fund into your empty bank account. My name is Mr.Merna Fenn,I am the
Executive Auditor in my bank and as well the Personal account manager of
Late Mr. Ed Swingle, the director and owner of the fund who died in a
plane crash with is entire Family and without any registered beneficiary.
He deposited this money many years ago in my bank and since his death know
body has operated on this account neither any body knew about the account.
The owner of the money is "Mr. Ed Swingle" who died on 4th Jan 2002. In a
plane crash in Birmingham ; you can view this CNN or BBC website for his
true details.

http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/01/04/england.plane/

I have mapped out 35% of the total amount of the money as your share for
your indulgence and assistance, while 60% will be my share and 5% incase
of any expenses that may arise upfront. And i want you to understand that
this transaction is highly legal and hitch free since i have all the legal
documents of this fund. I need a strong assurance from you that you will
not let me down in this business once the money is transferred into your
account. And i can only work with you if you can keep this transaction
secret and confidential as you do not know who hates your progress. Call
me through my mobile tel +44 7045 73 8769, also do not fail to send your
reply via this my private email address below: dosar20221@yahoo.com.hk

Yours truly,
Mr.Merna Fenn
Mobile Tel: +44 7045 73 8769

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam