419 scam: "Mrs. Elena Tan" <elena01@catholic.org> RE:,

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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:
- ",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 "dying widow" scam.
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.
- barr_rlee0101@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Elena Tan" <elena01@catholic.org>
Reply-To: barr_rlee0101@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:18:35 -0600
Subject: RE:,

Hello,

My name is Mrs. Elena Tan. I am a dying woman who had decided to donate what
I have to you. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about 2 years
ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who had left me everything
he worked for. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have
inherited from my late husband to you for the good work of God, rather than
allowing my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds ungodly. I have
asked God to forgive me all my sins and i believe he has because He is a
merciful God.

I will be going in for an operation, and i pray that i survive the
operation. I have decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,500,000.00.(Ten
million five hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord,
and to help the motherless, less privileged and also for the assistance of
the widows. At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls, due to the fact
that my relatives are around me and i have been restricted by my doctor from
taking telephone calls because i deserve all the rest i can get.Presently,I
have informed my lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund to you. 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.

Kindly Contact my lawyer through this email address
(barr_rlee0101@yahoo.com.hk) or you can call his private Lin:
+855976826769.If you are interested in carrying out this task, so that he
can arrange the release of the funds ($10,500,000.00) to you. My lawyer's
name is Barrister Richard Lee . I know I have never met you but my mind
tells me to do this, and i hope you act sincerely.

NB:I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the
task is accomplish,as I don't want anything that will Jeopardize my last
wish, due to the fact that i do not want relatives or family members
standing in the way of my last wish.

Thank you and God bless you. Mrs. Elena Tan.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam