419 scam: "Mrs M. Pete"<joseph@earthlink.net> This is the very Second time of contacting you, please respond.

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "madam_pete@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- +27785889966 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs M. Pete" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <madam_pete@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 01:11:32 -0400
Subject: This is the very Second time of contacting you, please respond.

Good day,

Please excuse this humble email if it offends your sensibilities, but I have no
other means to contact you. I cannot talk on the telephone, so I did a search
for your email address, which I found on the International Business Directorate
Email Data Search. My name is Mrs. M Pete, I'm a 52 years old woman.

I am a widow who is dying of oesophageal cancers. I was married to
Donald Pete, who was an Executive of Shell Oil Company. We are both
British people who worked in South Africa until he was killed. Presently, I'm
in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for Cancer in South Africa.

I have with a security firm a very huge amount of money which my husband
deposited before he died in a tragic automobile accident where he was killed
instantly. Because my doctors informed that I have several weeks to live I
must find a good God fearing person who will see that my money is used for
the benefit of the less privileged like homeless orphans and motherless babies.

I have decided to seek your help in carrying out my last wishes, I have since lost
my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only few weeks to live,
It is my last wish to see this money distributed.

My research says you are just the person I seek. Because you have been found
#so trustworthy, I will like you to keep 15% for yourselves and give the rest to
worthy charity. Maybe you could start the Donald Pete Foundation which will
keep my husband name alive.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the financial
company in South Africa/ Germany and I will send authority letter that will
prove you the present beneficiary of the money in the finance company that
is if you assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein

1. Your Full Names
2. Your contact Address
3. Your Age
4. Your Marital Status
5. Your Occupation
6. Your Mobile Numbers and
7. Your Home Phone

Feel free to call Mr. Makolo on phone no: +27 785889966 and ask any
question regarding this transaction.

I am waiting for your response.please reply in my privat mail add via
(madam_pete@yahoo.cn)

Be Bless as you reply positively,
Remain Blessed,
Mrs M. Pete

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam