419 scam: Barbara Oates <john0234747178@gmail.com> MY GOOD FRIEND IN CHRIST

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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:
- "million 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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Barbara Oates <john0234747178@gmail.com>
Reply-To: barbaraoates2015@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2015 12:55:42 -0700
Subject: MY GOOD FRIEND IN CHRIST

MY GOOD FRIEND IN CHRIST

I am Mrs Barbara Oates from Netherlands,I am 59 years old,i am Deaf
suffering from a long time cancer of the breast,from all indication my
conditions is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that i can't
work or do any stressful thing, according to my doctors they have advised
me that i may not live for the next four months,this is because the cancer
stage has gotten to a very bad stage. I was brought up from a motherless
babies home, was married to my late husband for twenty years without a
child,My Husband (Roberto Oates) died in a fatal motor accident, Before his
death, we were true Christians.

Since his death I decided not to re-marry,I sold all my inherited
belongings and deposited all the sum of USD4.5million dollars with a Bank
in London,United Kingdom .Presently, this money is still with the Bank in
London and the Board Of Directors Of the bank just wrote me as the true
beneficiary to come forward to receive the money since the funds has stayed
for a very long time in there custody .

Presently, I'm in hospital in Frankfurt Germany where I have been
undergoing treatment for my sickness and I have since lost my ability to
talk. It is my last wish to see that this money is invested/donated to any
organization/business of your choice and distributed each year among the
charity organization,E.g the poor homes,the motherless babies home where i
came from,the deaf homes,and churches etc .

All i seek for is a God fearing person like you ,who will carry out my last
wishes .As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of my
Lawyer also in London,UK who will direct you on how to receive the funds.
All i need from you is a confidential assurance that the funds when
received by you will be used for the said purpose. you can also see my
photo in hospital,

Waiting for your reply. please feel free to reply to me.

Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Barbara Oates

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam