419 scam: "sister mary" <sismary2008@hotmail.com> GREETING'S..A CALL FOR URGENT ASSISTANCEL LOTTO PROGRAM )Œë¸"

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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:
- "security company in holland" (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. )
- "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. )
- "million us 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)
- "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)
- "calvary greetings" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
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.
- sistermary@compaqnet.fr (Compaqnet, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "sister mary" <sismary2008@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: sistermary0020@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 12:02:54 +0000
Subject: GREETING'S.

Beloved in Christ,

Calvary greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,Am from United
Kingdom I am former mr Kerry Williams danther,Married to Late Usman Danjuma
from iraq,A widow to Late Usman Danjuma Alamin, I am 61years old, I am now
Mary Williams a new Christian convert,suffering from long time cancer of the
breast. From all indications, my condition is really deteriorating and is
quite obvious that I may not live more than six months, because the cancer
stage has gotten to a very severe stage.

My late husband was killed during the iraq war, and during the period of our
marriage we had a son who was also killed in a cold blood during the iraq
war. My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all
his business and wealth. My personal physician told me that I may not live
for more than six months and I am so scared about this. So, I now decided to
divide part of this wealth, by contributing to the development of evangelism
in Africa, America, Europe and Asian Countries. This mission which will no
doubt be tasking had made me to recently relocated to my home United
Kingdom,Europe where I live presently. I selected your church after visiting
the website for this purpose and prayed over it, I am willing to donate the
sum of $20.000,000.00 Million US Dollars to your Church/Ministry for the
development of evangelism and also as aids for the less privileged around
you.

Please note that, this fund is lying in a Security Company in Holland,If you
have the intention of using this fund for personal use other than
enhancement of evangelism.

Lastly, I want you/your ministry to be praying for me as regards my entire
life and my health because I have come to find out since my spiritual birth
lately that wealth acquisition without Jesus Christ in one? life is vanity
upon vanity. If you have to die says the Lord, keep fit and Iwill give you
the crown of life.

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of
God, and the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit be
with you. I await you. reply TO sistermary@compaqnet.fr

Yours in Christ,

Sister Mary Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam