419 scam: "Missionary Carol Mitchell." <rev.sistercarolmitchell2@hotmail.com> Contact my secretary immediately.

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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:
- "dear friend" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
- mrmikecarr@megamail.pt (Megamail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Missionary Carol Mitchell." <rev.sistercarolmitchell2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: rev.sistercarolmitchell1@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 15:23:42 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: Contact my secretary immediately.

Dear Friend,

Please accept my apology for not contacting you earlier before now due to
my tight schedules. I did not forgot your past effort and attempts to
assist me,now I'm happy to inform you that i have succeeded in getting
those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Japan.

Meanwhile, I did not forget you’re past efforts and attempts to assist me
in that process despite that it failed us at that time, due to no trust.
Now, I want you to contact my secretary, him name is Mr.Mike Carr Eze and
his email address is (mrmikecarr@megamail.pt) Arrange with him on how
tharye total sum of ($2,500,000.00usd) will reach you safely which I
havalready e kept for your compensation for all the past efforts and
attempts to assist me in this matter.I appreciated your efforts at that
time very much.

Please send the below information to him to enable him get back to you
immediately.

1,Your Full Name..........
2,Delivery address.………
3,phone number...........
4,email address...........

Best Regards,
Barrister.Tony Davis (Esq).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam