419 scam: "Lt. Col. Wesley Miller"<ltcolwesleymiller1@gmail.com> GREETINGS!!!

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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:
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Lt. Col. Wesley Miller" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ltcolwesleymiller@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2015 06:20:03 -0500
Subject: GREETINGS!!!

Dear Friend,

I am Lt. Col. Wesley Miller of American Forces redeployed again to Iraq on
a mission of helping Iraq again in the fledgling government's all-out
battle against insurgents, training Iraqi Forces and protecting US
Embassy.

Some time a go, there was Saddam Hussein's fortune discovered in a
warehouse in Moscow airport for six years. AS a member of American Air
Force, we were sent to recover back the wooden pallets containing the
money. You can read more of the story by visiting this web site:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a30_1380487992

As a matter of fact, during the process of recovering the wooden pallets
containing the money, I am my colleagues decided to make way with Two of
the wooden pallets containing the sum of USD$25M to a security company for
safe keeping.

I am writing to solicit for your assistance to help me claim the wooden
pallets containing the money because as the moment, I am in combat mission
and I don't know when I will be discharged from this mission. I have a
reliable Red Cross Diplomat who will deliver the wooden pallets to your
destination without any problem.

If you are interested in helping me, please provide me with the following
details:

(1). Your Full Names
(2). Your Contact Address and
(3). Your Direct Phone Number.

I will give you more information when you respond, please, endeavour to
keep this to yourself.

Thank you while I look forward to your response.

Regards,
Lt. Col. Wesley Miller

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam