419 scam: LINDA GEHMAN <lindaegehman@yahoo.com> URGENT HELP.......................................(LINDA GEHMAN)

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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.
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: LINDA GEHMAN <lindaegehman@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: LINDA GEHMAN <lindaegehman@live.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:32:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT HELP.......................................(LINDA GEHMAN)

I really hope you get this
quickly. My trip was rather impromptu so I didn't have time to inform my friends and family we had to be in the Philippines for the tour. The
program was successful, but our journey turned sour when we misplaced
our wallet and cell phone on our way back to the hotel after we went
sight seeing. The wallet contained all of our valuables and we are
unable to pay for our lodging! They have our passports in custody
pending when we make the payment.
I know this is a lot to ask, and
I'm sorry if I'm inconveniencing you, but I'm scrambling to find
someone who can help, and without my phone, all I have is email. Most
of my contacts are unreachable. I would be so eternally grateful if I
could get a short term loan from you, just until we return home. We
need a total of $2,100.00 USD This will enable me to sort our hotel
bills and get my sorry self back home. Even if the whole loan is
unmanageable, any amount would be incredibly helpful. I promise to
refund it in full as soon as soon as I return. Let me know if you can
be of any assistance. Please, let me know as soon as you possibly can.

Thanks so much.

LINDA

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam