419 scam: "Mrs. Stephanie Shaw"<mrsstephanieshaw@yahoo.com.hk> PLEASE KINDLY GET BACK TO ME..

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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 next of kin 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.
- barjwebb@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Stephanie Shaw" (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 19:53:06 +0100
Subject: PLEASE KINDLY GET BACK TO ME..

GREETINGS!

My contentment is that I have just concluded what my heart desires most, I got your email from an internet web database.
I am Stephanie Shaw , 87 Years old dying widow and the wife of Late Scott Shaw who died in a Plane crash on Monday the 7th of September 1998 GMT 14:22 UK while flying from New York to Geneva. You may confirm this from this link http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html
After the death of my husband, I headed our joint business, but for over two years, I have been hospitalized because of a terminal ailment (Esophageal Cancer) it has defiled all forms of medication and according to my doctor I might not live to see the next 72 hours.
Therefore, I decided to use the last days of my life to disburse part of my resources as selfless service to humanity, I have already given almost all of my resources to my relatives and other people around me and even to those that I do not know. I have already informed the financial director of my bank that my legal adviser will present you to them as the inheritor of my entire 12,800,000.00 USD in their custody and he will also contact them to enquire about the modalities of the realizing my funds to you as my inheritor.

You are to fill and forward the below information via email: barjwebb@gmail.com to Barrister Johnson Webb, he will refer you to the bank for the release of your inheritance. I have already informed him about my dying wish and he has no objection because it is my desire.
Please Contact Barrister Johnson Webb
Email Address: barjwebb@gmail.com
Your Full Names:
Your direct telephone number:
Your complete address:
Your Age
Gender
Occupation
Next of Kin
Very soon I will be taken to the theatre for a surgical operation, I want you to pray for me, and if I do not write you again just have it in mind that I have gone to join my late husband. I want you to use a reasonable part of this bequeathed fund for charitable work; you are to handle this project in good faith and honesty for you shall not only get a material reward but also a divine reward.
All further correspondences should be between you and my legal adviser.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Stephanie Shaw

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam