419 scam: Helene <helenni@btinternet.com> good day

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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Helene <helenni@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: hellib1@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:44:47 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: good day

Good day,
With Godly heart, I don't intend to disturb you with my present condition. I am Helene Libra 21 years old and the only daughter of late Mr. and Mrs. George Libra. My father was a wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan the economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire, my father was poisoned to death on one of his business trips aboard. My mother died when I was at the age of 4 and since then my father took me so special.

Before the death of my father on March, 2010 in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of seven million, five hundred thousand united state dollars. (US$7.5million) deposited in one of the prime Company here in Abidjan, that he used my name as his only daughter for the next of Kin in depositing of the fund. He advised that I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose and to further my education.

Please, I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
(1) Can you honestly help me as an orphan?
(2) To serve as a guardian of this fund?
(3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education.

Moreover, I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your effort after the successful transfer of this fund to your country. Furthermore, indicate your options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within a short period of time. Please signify your interest to assist me. I am looking forward to hearing from you as soon as you can.

Thanks and God bless.
Yours Sincerely,
Helene Libra.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam