419 scam: "Dr. George McConnell" <contact@ari-maj.com> ATTENTION.

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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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. George McConnell" <contact@ari-maj.com>
Reply-To: georgemcconnell10001@outlook.com
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2023 10:27:24 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)
International Settlement Unit,
1900 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20431, USA
Fax: + 1 (202) 623-4661

Dear Beneficiary,

I am directed to contact you in order to urgently confirm from you if you actually know one MR. PHILLIP S BROWN who claimed to be your business associate/partner. The said PHILLIP BROWN confirmed to us that you got infected with the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and passed on and he will like to change all the Information that you gave to us as our Bonafide beneficiary.

This development is coming now that the Ministry wants to offset all outstanding payments to all our legal foreign beneficiaries around the world. Note that your payment file was affected. As you may know, the total amount in your favor is a total sum of US$5.5 Million Dollars. We need to confirm from you if you are Dead or Alive.

Bear in mind that If we do not hear from you within 48 hours of receiving this notification, it automatically means that you are dead and the information passed to us by MR. PHILLIP S BROWN below is correct. You are to contact me through my email address as soon as you receive this message so as to know the
true position of things in order to avert any mistake in remitting your out-standing payment to a wrong person/account. Your swift response will help this ministry a lot.

1. NAME OF BENEFICIARY: PHILLIP STEPHEN BROWN

2. FULL ADDRESS: 122 CAMBRIDGE STREET, SOUTH GRAFTON NSW 2460, AUSTRALIA

3. OCCUPATION: BUSINESSMAN

4: AGE: 60 YEARS OLD

5. BANK NAME: COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA

6. BANK ADDRESS: 46 BEACH STREET, WOOLGOOLGA NSW 2456, AUSTRALIA

7. ACCOUNT HOLDERS NAME: PHILLIP STEPHEN BROWN

8. ACCOUNT NUMBER: 062687 10172445

9. BIC/SWIFT CODE : CTBAAU2S

Do email me with your full names and direct phone number for easy communication, your age and occupation world suffice. Finally send an urgent reply to enable us to educate on the next step to take immediately without any further delay.

Yours faithfully,
Dr. George McConnell
Coordinator, International Settlement Unit.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam