419 scam: "Mr. Oliver Thomas"<oliver.thomas09@gmail.com> MY LAST WISH INVOLVES YOU....!

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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:
- ",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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- oliver.thomas009@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Oliver Thomas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <oliver.thomas009@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 14:26:52 -0500
Subject: MY LAST WISH INVOLVES YOU....!

Greetings. You do not know me but after reading this email, i believe you will understand and pardon my choice of this medium. I am Oliver Thomas, i live in Corpus Christi, Texas. I am a cancer patient and any moment from now, i will answer the ultimate call. The reality of my present situation has made me look back to the life that i have lived, and i can say that i am not very proud of some of the things that i have done. But i have made my peace with Jesus, and i am in the process of making my peace with Man; Which is why i intend to hand over the sum of US$18,000,000 to you, for you to disburse to various charities of your choice. I deliberately prayed and carefully searched through the internet to find someone worthy of this responsibility, and then i came in contact with your email address.

I want to hand this money over to you. You may be surprised but please do not doubt, as this is my decision and i am happy with it. It is my final wish to give this sum away to a "stranger" but before i can proceed with you, kindly give answers the following questions:

(a). Do you have a heart of compassion for the less privileged?
(b). Are you financially strong?
(c). If given this responsibility, will you honestly disburse these funds to the less privileged?
(d). What specific charities do you have in mind that can benefit from these funds?

Please reply to oliver.thomas009@gmail.com

Be kind always,

Mr. Oliver Thomas

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam