419 scam: "Mrs Gianna Willow" <inboxmailer05@w99i1hh7n.homepage.t-online.de> MY DEAR FRIEND,PLEASE READ AND RESPOND.

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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 next of kin scam.
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.
- giannawillow@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Gianna Willow" <inboxmailer05@w99i1hh7n.homepage.t-online.de>
Reply-To: <gianna.willow@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 11:53:14 -0700
Subject: MY DEAR FRIEND,PLEASE READ AND RESPOND.

Dear Friend,

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
ethics.I will introduce myself as Mrs Gianna Willow,I am a citizen Virgin
Islands British residing in London,a director in the accounts management
section of Barclays international bank intelligence monitoring financial
network here in the United Kingdom

This is the detail of what i want you to assist me in doing,One of our
accounts with holding balance of $21,000,000.00(Twenty One Million
Dollars)has been dormant and has not been operated for the past eleven
(11)years.From my investigations and confirmations,the owner of this
account,a foreigner by name (Andreas Schranner)
died in July, 2000.
see this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

And since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this
money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence of
neither the account nor the funds.I have secretly discussed this matter
with a senior official of this firm and we have agreed to find a reliable
foreign partner to deal with. We thus propose to do business with
you,standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the deceased while
the funds released to you after due processes have been followed.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is
legitimate and does not originate from drug,money laundry,terrorism or any
other illegal act. On receipt of your response I will furnish you with
detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual benefit transaction
even as All documents and proves to enable us get this fund have been
carefully worked out.

I have to hear from you before we start making decision regarding the %
all I need is trust and oneness but to make it clear your share would be
50% of the total amount while the rest will be for investment purposes if
you are of genuine intensions

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.If you are
interested and with your trust,kindly furnish me with the following
informations:

YOUR FULL NAMES.............

YOUR MOBILE PHONE..........

YOUR FAX NUMBERS........

YOUR NATIONALITY.............

YOUR OCCUPATION.............

As soon as i recieve the above informations i will give you the
information of Late Mr Andreas Schranner's Account Details.Please reply to
my confidential email: giannawillow@aol.com

Regards,
Mrs Gianna Willow

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam