419 scam: "Mrs.Josephine Andrew" <office--------0411@att.net> I will give you more details concerning this as soon as I received your swift r

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- ",000,000" (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)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Josephine Andrew" <office--------0411@att.net>
Reply-To: wbcn00@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:37:01 -0800 (PST)
Subject: I will give you more details concerning this as soon as I received your swift response

Dear Sir/Madam,

Greetings, As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me,
because,I believe everyone will die someday. My name is Mrs.Josephine
Andrew,a merchant in phillipines,I have been diagnosed with Esophageal
cancer .

It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have
only about a few months to live, according to medical experts. I have
particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone
(not even myself) but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never
generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my
business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all
this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to
have or make all the money in the world. I once asked members of my
family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I
have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Malaysia, they
refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them
anymore, as they seem not to be contented with what I have left for
them.

The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of
$18,000,000.00 USDollars that I have with a finance/Security Company
abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched
it to charity organizations. I have set aside 20% for you and for your
time.

I will give you more details concerning this as soon as I received
your swift response which must include your full names, address,
occupation, age and your direct mobile phone number.Please contact via
this email address

God be with you.
Mrs.Josephine Andrew

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam