419 scam: <morrisjohnson2@Minvestments.onmicrosoft.com> Dear Friend

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (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. )
This email message is a "dying merchant" 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.
- petervanedgar1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <morrisjohnson2@Minvestments.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <petervanedgar1@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 02:24:55 +0530
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend, As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, becau=
se, I believe everyone will die someday. My name is Peter Van Edgar, a merc=
hant in Dubai, in the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer wh=
ich was discovered very late, due to my laxity in carrying for my health. I=
t has defiled all forms of medicine, and right now I have only about a few =
months to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived=
my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone not even myself but my=
business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostil=
e to people and only focus on my business as that was the only thing I care=
d for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life t=
han just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when=
God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a =
different way from how I have lived it.Now that God ! has called me, I have=
willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and exte=
nded family members and as well as a few close friends. I want God to be me=
rciful to me and accept my soul and so, I have decided to give arms to char=
ity organizations and give succour and confort to the less priviledged in o=
ur societies, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth=
. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A=
.E, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my healthhas deteriorated so badly, I ca=
nnot do this my self anymore. I once asked members of my family to close on=
e of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity org=
anization and to the less priviledged in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refuse=
d and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as =
they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. The last of m=
y money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of fourteen million =
dollars($14m) that I have with a Security Company in Europe for safe keepin=
g. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and disburse it to some =
charity organizations and to the less priviledged. N/B:Kindly note that 35%=
of this funds must go to victims of Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina , Hurricane=
Wilma and South Asia Earthquake ,50% to other Charity Organizations around=
the World and 15% for your effort and time. I cannot talk much on the phon=
e due to my health situation, as I am using my Lap Top Computer to communic=
ate with you. You should respond to this e-mail if you are interested in ca=
rrying out this assignment on my behalf. Please send me a mail to indicate =
if you will assist me in this disbursement. petervanedgar1@gmail.com I awai=
t to hear from you, may God be with you and your entire family. Remain Bles=
sed, Peter Van Edgar.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam