419 scam: "Mrs.S.Hassan" <coldham@santander.uned.es> Mrs. Sarah

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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:
- "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)
This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
- sarah_hassan201268@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.S.Hassan" <coldham@santander.uned.es>
Reply-To: sarah_hassan201268@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:19:56 +0100
Subject: Mrs. Sarah

I am aware that this is not a conventional way to establish a relationship
of trust, and I apologize for this unsolicited mail to you but, as you
read you will realize the need for my action.

My name is Mrs.Sarah Hassan, I am suffering from a cancerous ailment. When
my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $10.8 Million Dollars
which were derived from his vast estates and investment in capital market
with his bank here in Ireland.

I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to use this gift
which comes from my husband?s effort, to fund the up keep of the less
privileged and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped financially.
As a reward for the effort you will be putting into this, 30% of the funds
would be given to you as compensation.

Please contact me on this email, (sarah_hassan201268@yahoo.com) for further
information.

Sincerely,
Mrs.S.Hassan

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam