419 scam: "Mrs Magret Winter" <psanky@state.gov> Hello

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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:
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +447045731487 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- brslther@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Magret Winter" <psanky@state.gov>
Reply-To: brslther@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:01:33 -0100
Subject: Hello

Hello,

I have to thank God this moment for his direction as regards this mission.God want me to complete this mission hence, I
got your contact. I know you maybe wondering how I got your contact email. Actually when I heard from the doctor that my
condition has become so critical,I had to reach out to a Christian sister, who assisted me in searching for your contact
in order to help me utilize this wealth the way I am going to instruct herein, and even the sister that helped me in this
regard doesn't know the purpose for which I intend to use it. I have prayed about it and it has been revealed to me that
you can make judicious use of the resources for its intended purpose.

I am currently sending you this mail from my sick bed in the hospital. My husband earned these funds (10,800,000.00 USD)
but he died in a plane crash and left everything behind for me and I will join him soon due to my ill health. Due to my
infertility resulting from medical problems I became barren. God has a reason for everything. I would want you to contact
my lawyer; he will inform you on what to do. Contact him with the below details:

Barrister Henry Slater
Email: brslther@hotmail.co.uk
Telephone:+447045731487

Ensure to use a greater portion of the funds for its purpose in fulfillment of my last wish. Furthermore you will never
have any problem with the law as you will only pay some amount to the government as tax and a minor percentage to settle
the bill of the bank and the most major part you will use to bless God's
Children all over the world.

You are blessed.
Mrs. Margret Winter.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam