419 scam: "Mrs Theresa Smith" <mrstheresasmith@ymail.com> Dearest one

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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "hundred thousand us dollars" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Theresa Smith" <mrstheresasmith@ymail.com>
Reply-To: mrstheresasmith@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:43:11 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dearest one

Dearest one.

I am Mrs Theresa Smith.I am 65years old, am suffering from long time
liver problem.From all indications, my condition is serious and according
to my doctor it is quite obvious that I may not survive the
sickness,although as a christain,I beleive God, and I know that I will
not die,I will leave to declare the glory of God. My late Husband and my
only son was killed during the Ogoni Crisis and I am presently Leaving
alone.Our Lord Jesus Christ is my comforter.My late Husband was very
wealthy we have a lot of properties including shares and houses.After the
death of my Husband,I made up my mind to travel abroad to leave the rest
of my life and continue to do the work of God as a missionary.I called
our lawyer and I instructed him to sell all my Husband properties and
shares to enable me raise some money to conitue my mission.

The lawyer sold the Shares and some of the properties and I was able to
raise the sum of ($10.300,000.00(Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand US
Dollars)The fund is in cash,for the safety of the fund till am able to
travel out,I packaged the fund in consignments deposited it with a
Security Company.Presently,all the documents concerning the consignments
are with my lawyer.

Now that my sickness has gone to this stage,I am scared and I want the
fund to be used for the work of God all over the world. I have prayed and
I told God to direct me to an honest person who will receive this fund and
utilise it for things that will glorify the name of God After my prayers,I
searched the internet,I found your email address and I decided to contact
you.Please if you are interested in using this fund for the work of
God,please send to me your private phone and fax number full names and
address to enable me give it to my lawyer for immediate arrangement with
the Security company on how the consignments that contained the fund will
be delivered to you.I await your urgent reply.

Thanks and God bless you.

Regards,
Mrs Theresa Smith

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam