419 scam: "margaret.brown" <mrsmargaret_brown1@w.cn> (Dear God's elect,)

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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:
- ",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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "margaret.brown" <mrsmargaret_brown1@w.cn>
Reply-To: mrsmargaret@voila.fr
Date: Sat, 21 May 2011 18:34:27 +0530 (IST)
Subject: (Dear God's elect,)

(Dear truly of God)

I am
divinely touched to offer my fortune to less privilege through you for charity
work.
I am a widow and childless, as a result of my present situation, I
have nothing else in mind other than to help the poor according to God's
direction and wishes. By special grace of God I reached you by email because I
can not speak to your understanding on telephone due to my sickness.

I am
suffering from oesophageal cancer for years now and have undergone series of
cancer treatments but no avail. Recently my doctor declared that I will not last
forth coming month. Therefore I will offer you $8,500,000.00 US to take care of
less privilege with heartfelt love of God and humanity. I decided to hand you
over this money so that you will conduct vastly a charity work and dispense the
money to the glory of God. I
have shorter days to live, therefore I have
portioned 30% of the total money for your personal use while 70% of the money
will go to the charity work.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall
give you the address of my bank Banco Santander Bank in London and will also
instruct them for the release of the money to you for the charity work. But I
only wished to have assurance that you will utilize the money as I have
instructed herein.

This is my last wish, I grew up as an Orphan and I
don't have anybody as my family member therefore I would not like any thing to
jeopardise the charity project as my last wish. Please remember my situation in
your daily prayers.
Hoping to receive your reply soon.
Mrs.Margaret
Brown.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam