419 scam: "Mr. Michael Ikeh" From: Mr. Michael Ikeh.

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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)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
- barrjeffrykennedy@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Ikeh"
Reply-To: <barrjeffrykennedy@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2015 01:08:11 +0330
Subject: From: Mr. Michael Ikeh.

>From Mr. Michael Ikeh.
Dear Good friend
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family?, You may not=
understand why this mail came to you.But if you do not remember me or my c=
olleague, you might have received an email from us in the past regarding a =
million-dollar business proposal which we never concluded with you. I am us=
ing this opportunity to inform you that this million-dollar business has be=
en concluded with the assistance of another partner from United Kingdom (Lo=
ndon) who financed the transaction to a logical conclusion. I thank you for=
your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your account due=
to one reason or the other best known to you.
But I want to inform you that I have successfully transferred the fund out=
of the Africa to my new partner's account in UK who assisted me in this gr=
eat venture but now I am in China for business mission, Due to your effort =
then, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness shown during the course of th=
e transaction.I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with th=
e sum of $500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand united State Dollars Only)
My dear friend I will like you to contact my secretary Mr. Jeffrey Kennedy=
, on his direct email address at: (barrjeffrykennedy@hotmail.com) for the c=
ollection of your bank draft.I authorized him to release the Bank Draft to =
you whenever you contact him regarding it. At the moment, I'm very busy her=
e in China because of the investment projects, which I and my new partner a=
re having at hand.Please I will like you to accept this token with good fai=
th as this is from the bottom of my heart,Also comply with Barr. Jeffrey Ke=
nnedy's directives so that he will send the draft to you without any delay.
CONTACT: Jeffrey Kennedy
Email: barrjeffrykennedy@hotmail.com
Therefore, you should contact him and send him your telephone number/your =
current mailing address,{Home or Office} where you want him to send the dra=
ft to you.
Thanks and God bless you and your family.
Mr. Michael Ikeh.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam