419 scam: "Mr. Steven Nielson" <sistanna4@gmail.com> Shout out to My SPECIAL Friend,

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- kennethward464@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Steven Nielson" <sistanna4@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kennethward464@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:52:41 -0700
Subject: Shout out to My SPECIAL Friend,

Dear Friend,

I'm sorry but happy to inform you of my success in getting the USA, UK/
Dubai transaction completed and fund released/ transferred under the
cooperation of a new partner from Portugal though I loved you and tried my
best to involve you in the business, but you chose not to trust or believe
me then and finally God decided the whole situations. I hope you can still
remember me because it's been awhile since we last wrote to each other.

However, Presently, I am in a very bad condition here in Portugal which I
cannot tell of what will happen after now because I was diagnosed for
cancer, so I decided to stay back and spend this last moment of my life
with my daughter since I have not really had time for her and my aged Aunt.
Meanwhile, I won't forget our friendship, and your past efforts, plus the
GOOD LUCK that brought me success.

However, I want to use this medium to thank you very much for your earlier
assistance and prayers that made way for my success; thank you so much for
being there at the right time. I am obliged to inform you that I succeeded
in completing the deal and receiving the total payment of $26,691,464.00
(Twenty Six Million, Six Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, Four Hundred and
Sixty Four dollars) which part of it is my 10% commission from the Dubai/
Texas oil business with the help of
the new partnerâ€™ from Lisbon Capital of Portugal.

Part of this money is from my 10% commission from the Dubai/ Texas oil
business which you are supposed to receive but was finally done under the
name of the new partner, while the remaining is from my other share with
Bain capital Investment, all the money was converted to Bain capital
Investment share and was finally sold by the company.

Everything was perfectly done because we struck a deal with the admin of
Bain Capital Investment International, who rendered a tremendous help to
us. In appreciation of your help and good old time friendship, I decided to
will and compensate you with the total sum of US$840,000 (Eight Hundreds
Forty Thousand United States Dollars only) in International Certified Bank
Draft, which can be collected at any bank of your choice. This is from my
own share.

Now contact the stockbroker in UK, London who I handed over the US$840,000
Bank Draft on your behalf; his name is Mr. Kenneth Ward, and his email
address is: (kennethward464@gmail.com) Ask him to send you the total Check
of US$840,000 which I kept for you under his care before my exit in UK.
Feel free and get in touch with the UK Stock Broker, Mr. Kenneth, and
instruct him where to send the amount to you.

Do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy
after all the sufferers at that time. Remember that I have forwarded
instructions to the stock broker on your behalf to receive that check, so
feel free to get in touch with him. He will send the amount in the check to
you.

Regards,
Steven Nielson

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam