419 scam: "Mrs.Abigail Mcneil"<mail@rainselectric.com> Please can you help 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:

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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Abigail Mcneil" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs_mcneil60@yahoo.cn>
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:42:45 -0000
Subject: Please can you help me?

Dearest One,

I am Mrs. Abigail McNeill, I was married to McNeill a seasoned Contractor in the UK here, before he died in the year 2002 we were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a Brief illness. After his Death, I adopted a child but he died in a ghastly auto accident that almost took my life too.When my late husband was alive, he deposited the sum of seven million five Hundred thousand United States dollars in a security company here.

My Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Three months because i have been diagnosed with cancer. Having known my condition I decided to donate these funds to better the lives of the less privileged. I need honest and trust worthy individual that will utilize this Money in accordance With my instruction's want the funds to be used in Organizations, Orphanages and less privileged.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this Money and my husband relatives are very unkind to me and I don't Want my Husband’s hard-earned money to be misused.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the Contact of my attorney here in the UK who will also Issue you a letter of authority that will empower you as the

Original-Beneficiary of this fund. I want you to always pray for me, any delay in your Reply will give me room in sourcing for another individual for this same purpose.

Thanks

Yours sincerely

Abigail McNeill

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam