419 scam: "Ms. Sharon"<optron@ukrpost.ua> FROM MS, SHARON

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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms. Sharon" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mssjohnson@e-mail.ua>
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2012 19:58:48 +0100
Subject: FROM MS, SHARON

Hello

Thanks for your reply and I am introducing myself to you. I am Ms. Sharon Johnson a citizen of Tanzania, working with UK National Lottery Population Fund MANAGER PROGRAM (UK) BRANCH . We hold a lottery Poverty Alleviation Program which completed 7days ago. After we paid all the winners in my office I still have over-invoice fund which I will return back to the treasury account of the company, but before I return this fund I am looking for an honest person to do this deal by submitting your name as one of the winner's who not yet receive his/her own winning. I will submit all your information to the person in charge of your payment and he will processing your fund transfer to your account. I will submit your information as one of the winners of ONE MILLION DOLLARS category.

Please, note that this is the only means we make money from any promo our company hold and I want you to know that I am here to direct you on what to do so that the fund will be transfer to your account. You have to bear this in mind that the company will not know that I am involve in this DEAL and I will come to meet you immediately you confirm the fund into your account for the sharing of the fund 50/50 % with me. If you are interested on this business deal then you have to get back to me for more details.

I wait for your reply,

Thanks,

Ms. Sharon

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam