419 scam: "Michael Adam" <michaeladam652@gmail.com> From Michael Adam.

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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.

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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- ",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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael Adam" <michaeladam652@gmail.com>
Reply-To: michaeladam064@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 17:44:42 -0000
Subject: From Michael Adam.

FROM: Michael Adam.

Hello ,

I decided to write you this proposal in good faith, believing that you
will not betray me. I am Mr. Michael Adam, a Bank officer here in
London,UK. One Mr. Peter wilson, a citizen of your country and Crude Oil
dealer made a fixed deposit with my bank in 2005 for 108 calendar months,
valued at US$30,500,000.00 (Thirty Million Five Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars) the due date for this deposit contract was last 22nd of
January 2013. Sadly Peter was among the death victims in the May 27 2006
Earthquake disaster in Java, Indonesia that killed over 5,000 people. He
was in Indonesia on a business trip and that was how he met his untimely
end. My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it
because he was my friend and I am his Account Officer. Peter did not
mention any Next of Kin/ Heir when the account was opened, he was not
married and no children. Last week my Bank Management requested that Peter
should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the
contract.

I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to
handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to know that
Peter is dead and do not have any Heir, they will take the funds for their
personal use, so I don't want such to happen. That is why I am seeking
your co-operation to present you as the Next of Kin/ Heir to the account,
since you are a foreigner and my bank head quarters will release the
account to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any
breach of law. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the
Bank Directors to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy
person, so I am suggesting we share the funds in this ratio, 50/50%, equal
sharing. Let me know your mind on this and please do treat this
information highly confidential. We shall go over the details once I
receive your urgent response. Please Urgently get back to me as soon as
possible.

Have a nice day and God bless. Anticipating your .

Regards,

Michael Adam

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam