419 scam: "Mrs. Amanda J. Watson" <amanda@london.ir> My Last Wish

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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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- edward.hayes113@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Amanda J. Watson" <amanda@london.ir>
Reply-To: edward.hayes12@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 03:19:14 +0100 (CET)
Subject: My Last Wish

--
My Last Wish

My name is Mrs. Amanda J. Watson, I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for
cancer about 2 years ago after the death of my husband who had left me
everything he worked for. I have been touched by the Lord to donate from
what I have inherited from my late husband to charity for the good work of
humanity, rather than allow my greedy relatives to use my husband's hard
earned funds in appropriately.

I will be going in for an operation tomorrow morning and I have decided to
WILL/donate the sum of $3,500,000(Three million five hundred thousand
dollars) to you/Organization for the good work of the lord also for the
assistance of the widows, less privilege and orphans according to (JAMES
1:27). At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls right now due to
the fact that my relatives are around me and my health status. I have
adjusted my WILL and my Executor is aware I have changed my will; you and
him will arrange the transfer of the funds from the Private Finance
Company to your humble self. I wish you all the best and may the good Lord
bless you abundantly, and please use the funds well and always extend the
good work to others.

CONTACT MY EXECUTOR: BARRISTER EDWARD HAYES With this specified Email:
edward.hayes113@gmail.com

Do enclose along with your full names contact telephone/fax number and
your full address and tell him that I have WILLED($3,500,000.00) to you
and I have also notified him that I am WILL-IN that amount to you for a
specific and good work. Thanks and God bless.

NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the
task is accomplished as I do not want anything that will jeopardize my
last wish. And also I will be contacting with you by email as I don't want
my relation or anybody to know because they are always around me.

Thank You,
Mrs. Amanda J. Watson,

Anti-fraud resources:

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