419 scam: Mr Smith Washington <smith.washington01@gmail.com> Dear Sir/Ma, HAVE MERCY ON ME

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- smith.washington01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Smith Washington <smith.washington01@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2011 03:33:42 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Dear Sir/Ma, HAVE MERCY ON ME

Dear Sir/Ma, HAVE MERCY ON ME

Complement of the season to you and your family. How is your condition of Health and business today ? I hope fine. If so, to God be the glory. Please, my intention of writing this letter is to inform you that, I am an orphan. I was 19 years old when I lost my parent. A bus was ambushed by armed robbers, the passengers were robbed and raped, those that had nothing to give were asked to lie down on the road face down and the driver on gun point was commanded by the robbers to drive the bus over them. My mother,my father and my two brothers were killed the same day.

Read this page below for more information about it:

http://nigeriamasterweb.com/blog/index.php/2010/0/25/nigeria_highway_robbery_aamp_gruesome_ma

http://community.vanguardngr.com/profiles/blogs/nigeria-highway-robbery-amp

Since after the death of my parent, I have been staying with my uncle who live in BURKINA FASO , doing such odd jobs opportunities just to survive. I manage to school at the UNIVERSITY IN OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO. I am in final year but there is a problem now, which is ,there is no money to finish the course. My uncle is sick of Diabetics and things are becoming worse on my side.I hereby beg you with cry to render me a financial support of US$1,000 to just finish this course. I need to pay my school fee and if I don't pay up, I will not take my final exams. I am confused and It is only God I cried to use you to help me out for this problem so that, I can become somebody in future.

You see, things are difficult to someone that does not have parent. Is like he is in bondage. Please, help me out.please forward the payment details to this email address smith.washington01@gmail.com I will appreciate any amount you can send to me and God will bless you abundantly. Whatever you laid your hand into,blessing upon blessing will follow you as you reply me with Good news.

PLEASE SEND IT BY WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER IN THE NAME BELOW:

BENEFICIARY`S NAME......... PROMISE NWAOKUGHA

RECEIVING COUNTRY....BURKINA FASO

CITY......OUAGADOUGOU.

ZIP... 226

As soon as you send the money, please forward the payment details to this email address smith.washington01@gmail.com

I will be waiting for the payment slip as soon as you send it. Once again, I thank you for your support.

Yours faithfully,

SMITH.

E-mail address smith.washington01@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam