419 scam: CELESTINABROWN <nnonno@att.net> URGENT FAMILY HELP NEEDED

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27788217643 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- brown1977@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- celestina brown johannesburg south african, email; eric. brown1977@gmail.com. tel: +27 -788 217 643 (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: CELESTINABROWN <nnonno@att.net>
Reply-To: michael.ms.smith@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:54:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT FAMILY HELP NEEDED

FROM: MRS CELESTINA BROWN
Johannesburg South African,
Email; eric. brown1977@gmail.com.
Tel: +27 -788 217 643

URGENT FAMILY HELP NEEDED
Good day,
Naturally, this letter will come to you as
a surprise since we have not met, permit me however, I am CELESTINA
BROWN wife of Zimbabwean Farmer Mr. PATRICT BROWN. I am
contacting you as the need for me to have a foreign partner in your
country has become necessary due to my plans to relocate and
establish a private company in that region. As the present
political instability in my country Zimbabwe, does not encourage
financial investment, as the environment is not conducive for
investment and most of all security is not insured, just as
reported by international media.

This problem started when the Zimbabwean
government under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe
announced a degree on May 31st 2000 to seize more than 849
white-owned farms. So far, more than 1,400 white owned farms have
been invaded and confiscated, as well as claiming the properties of
the farmers. Therefore, I decided to contact you, for your
assistance, so that I can establish a company in your country and
relocate there with this money mine father kept for me in a
security and trust company in South Africa.

Which
amounted to US$11.5 Million, I will upon receiving this money on my
behalf, pending my arrival to meet with you in your country so that
we can both make further arrangements with regards to establishing
the Company. As a partner you will be entitled to 25% of the
total sum, and in whichever company that we both decide to
establish, when I arrive your country we shall discuss that
facially. You can contact my son; MR.ERIC BROWN, and email us
through this Email; eric.brown1977@gmail.com
TEL; +27 788 217 643

I am waiting urgently for your email through
this. And also view our political
website:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/594522.stm

Cheers and God bless.
Best Regards,
MRS CELESTINA BROWN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam