419 scam: "Mrs. Elizabeth Chow " <fulton@emcgeophysics.com> Dear Friend

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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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "eliza_bethcho@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Elizabeth Chow " <fulton@emcgeophysics.com>
Reply-To: eliza_bethcho@w.cn
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2011 01:36:22 -0500
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend,

I am Mrs. Elizabeth Chow from Iceland, married to Late Engr Brown
Erick {PhD} who worke with MULTINATIONAL OIL
COMPANY EXXON AS A DRILLING RIG SUPPLIER in Kuwait for 19 years before
he died on the 22th August 2010.
We were married for twenty four years without a child. He died after a
brief illness that lasted for only fourdays.
Before his death, he deposited the sum of USD 2,142,728.00 US Dollars
with a bank In UK and this fund is presently with the bank awaiting my
disbursement as beneficiary and next of kin to the funds.
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight
months due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to
donate this fund to a church, organization or good person that will
utilize this money in good
faith.
l took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit
this money. I kept this deposit secret till date, this is why I am
taking this decision. I don't think i will need any telephone
communication in this regard
because of the confidentiality of this transfer.Upon your reply I
shall give you the contact of the bank. I will also issue a letter of
authorization to the bank that will prove you the present beneficiary
of this money. Reply to my
very confidential email address below {eliza_bethcho@w.cn}

Await your responds and God bless you.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam