419 scam: "MRS. JENIFER WOODWARD" <jeniferwoodward@activist.com> IT'S URGENT

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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 united states 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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
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.
- jenniferwodward@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. JENIFER WOODWARD" <jeniferwoodward@activist.com>
Reply-To: jenniferwodward@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 15:49:30 -0400
Subject: IT'S URGENT

Beloved,

I am Mrs Jennifer Woodward,you may think I do not know you but My spirit led
me to write you and you really have to believe me to achieve this
dream for God's sake. I write you with heavy tears in my eyes and great sorrow
in my heart because my Doctor informed me that I will die in 3 weeks time due
to my complicated health issues (CANCER).Based on this, I want to WILL my
money (10.5 million United States Dollars) to a faithful and God fearing
person who will use it as I will instruct you, having
grown up in the orphanage home, I have no family to take care of it. The funds
will be used to assist charity organizations, the orphanage homes and help the
people involved in any form of natural disaster. I will wait to hear from you
if you can handle this task with honesty.

Please,let this affair be between us until money is successfully transferred
to your account,for safety reasons. God bless you. Reply me on:
jenniferwodward@yahoo.co.jp

Mrs. Jennifer Woodward

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam