419 scam: "Mr. Michael Harrison"<mailrelay.saintdavids.org> URGENT AND VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE.

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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- michael.harrison@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Harrison" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michael_intercontinentalbank@yahoo.com.tw>
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:24:57 -0500
Subject: URGENT AND VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE.

FROM THE DESK OF
MR.MICHAEL HARRISON
INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC.
111,BROAD STREET 1065 VICTORIA/ISLAND
LAGOS NIGERIA
PHONE:(00234)8033-451-540
FAX: 00233-1-7595633,00233-1-7593356.
ATL. EMAIL: michael.harrison@accountant.com

PERMIT ME TO INFORM YOU OF MY DESIRE OF GOING INTO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, I GOT YOUR CONTACT FROM A COMPUTERIZE DATA FOLLOWING MY EFFORT SEARCHING FOR A TRUSTWORTHY PERSON TO ASSIST ME.

MY NAME IS MICHAEL HARRISON, I AM A CITIZEN OF UNITED KINGDOM (UK) AND A SEASONED BANKER WITH INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. (NIGERIA OFFICE) AM AS WELL AN ACCOUNT OFFICER TO A DECEASED CUSTOMER IN OUR BANK. WE LOST THIS CUSTOMER IN A PLANE CRASH ON FRIDAY, THE 26TH OF DECEMBER 2003 WHILE COMING FROM CONAKRY THE CAPITAL OF GUINEA IN WEST AFRICA REGION IN WHICH 22 PEOPLE HAD SURVIVED AND 118 PEOPLE DIED INCLUDING OUR RESPECTFUL CUSTOMER. HIS ACCOUNT OF $14.8MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLAR WITH US HAVE BEEN UNCLAIMED DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF NEXT OF KIN/RELATIVES TO CLAIM HIS FUND AND ESTATE.

SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING THE RELATIONS FOR OVER TWO YEARS, I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED SINCE YOU SHARE ALMOST THE SAME LAST NAME WITH HIM SO THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THIS ACCOUNT VALUED AT ($14.8 MILLION US DOLLARS) CAN BE PAID TO YOU AND THEN, YOU AND I CAN SHARE THE MONEY. 50% FOR YOU AND 50% TO ME AND ALL THE EXPENSES WILL BE SHARED EQUALLY.

BELOW IS THE LINK OF THE PLANE CRASH:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm

HOWEVER, MY LATE CLIENT WAS AWARDED TWO DIFFERENT CONTRACTS WITH SHELL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY HERE IN NIGERIA BEFORE HIS UNTIMELY DEATH ON THE 26TH OF DECEMBER 2003. I AM SEEKING YOUR CO-OPERATION TO STAND AS HIS NEXT OF KIN TO ENABLE YOU CLAIM HIS INHERITANCE BEFORE THE PERIOD GIVING TIME BY THE HEAD OFFICE OR HAVE THE FUND CONFISCATED.

ALL I REQUIRE OF YOU IS YOUR HONEST COOPERATION TO ENABLE US SEE THIS DEAL THROUGH. I GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL BE EXECUTED UNDER A LEGITIMATE ARRANGEMENT THAT WILL PROTECT YOU AND I FROM ANY BREACH OF THE LAW.

N.B

I SINCERELY RECOMMEND YOU SEND YOUR PHONE NUMBER WHEN RESPONDING TO ENABLE ME CALL AND GIVE YOU FURTHER EXPLANATION.

KINDEST REGARDS,

MR.MICHAEL HARRISON.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam