419 scam: "Michael L. Surrey" <rsdgls78@gmail.com> Hello Dear

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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:
- "million pounds" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +22967016486 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- mikel.surrey1110@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael L. Surrey" <rsdgls78@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mikel.surrey1110@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 02:33:17 +0100
Subject: Hello Dear

Hello Dear,

My Name is Mr. Michael L. Surrey(Esq), a Private lawyer to Late
Engineer Muhammad Alquibaisi Ghanem, a national of your country, who
worked as the Director of petroliers for the (Chevron/Texaco S.A.R.L.)
an Oil and Gas Company here in Benin Republic before his death on the
26th of December 2007.

I am contacting you for the purpose of an investment which is valued
to the sum of Â£17.000.000.00 Million Pounds. The cash is currently
deposited in my late client's premium account with his bank (SGBB) in
the Republic of Benin and as His Legal Representative, I will need
your help in the clearing of the fund from the bank for further
investment with your business.

Know that this will be on a mutual understanding and agreement in
which you will be entitled to 35% of the total amount, while 25% we
will assign to a charity organization for the care of the less
privileged and displaced children, then the remaining 40% of the fund
will go to me at the end of this transaction.

Please, be kind to provide me with your following detail as
confirmation of your readiness and willingness to partner with me in
this huge investment project.

Your Names:
Your Address:
Your Phone numbers:
Your Nationality:
Your E-mail ID:
A copy of your ID Card:

When I hear from you, I will give you more detail on this deal and
explain to you why I chose to contact you for it before we proceed.

Thanks and have a wonderful day.

Yours faithfully,
Michael L. Surrey(Esq)

H.A. Legal Consultants
Republic of Benin
Contacts: +229 67016486. E-mail: mikel.surrey1110@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam