419 scam: "Mrs.Helen Imoh" <mrshelenimoh@yahoo.fr> Greetings

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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:
- "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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22968451383 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- sec.kalangomboma70001@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Helen Imoh" <mrshelenimoh@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: sec.kalangomboma70001@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:46:34 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Greetings

Greetings,

I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred to a Swiss Account with the co-operation of a new partner from Paraguay who is an international business man. Presently I am in Paraguay for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how.

Now contact my secretary in Benin Republic, his name is Mr.Kalango Mboma Email Address is: (sec.kalangomboma70001@hotmail.com) his private telephone number is: +229 68 45 1383, ask him to send you the total sum of $1.2 million (one million two hundred thousand United State Dollars) that I kept for your compensation for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.

Also do use part of the money for philanthropist purposes for use in helping the less privileged in your area. Especially at this festive season. Put a smile on somebody face and let the world be better for it. I appreciated your efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get in touch with my secretary Mr.Kalango Mboma and instruct him where to send the amount to you.

Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy together after all this sufferings. At this moment, I am very busy here in Paraguay because of the investment projects which me and my new partner is having at hand.

Finally, remember that I had forwarded instruction to my secretary on your behalf to receive that money, so feel free to get in touch with Mr.Kalango Mboma he will send the amount to you without any delay.

I beg you to use at least 10% of this $1.2 million dollars I am offering you as compensation to put smile on the faces of the less privileged in your area.

This is my utmost wish for this donation.

With best regards

Mrs.Helen Imoh

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam