419 scam: "From Mrs. Pamela"<Pamela> I HAVE DECIDED TO WILL THE SUM OF $17,250.000.00USD

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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:
- "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- misspamelahswan2012@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "From Mrs. Pamela" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <misspamelahswan2012@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 09:13:28 -0700
Subject: I HAVE DECIDED TO WILL THE SUM OF $17,250.000.00USD

Hello Dear,

Though this medium internet has been greatly abused, but I chose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of communication .However, this correspondent is unofficial and private. Please give me this little chance to explain myself to you, I would have like to meet you face to face before departing from this mother earth but my illness continue to deprive the chance, but I know I am strong even if I die on the process of this operation I will still praise ALMIGHTY.
My name is Mrs. Pamela H Swan I am a dying woman and i decided to donate what I have to you which is to be used to assist poor people and charity homes. I am 60 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me everything he worked for and because the doctors told me I will not live longer than some weeks because of my health, I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $17,250,000(Seventeen million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to help the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows in general.
I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others should encase I did not survive this major operation I am about to go through now, but all I need now is prayers.
If you are willing to handle this fund for the purpose mentioned above, get back to me through my lawyer with the below details for the release LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT in your favor.

Your full name...........
Your mobile number............
Your age.......................
Your sex...........................
Your identification proof ....................
Your occupation...............................
Your country and city.......................
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality and trust in this matter to accomplish my heart desire, as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish. Always write me with below email address: (misspamelahswan2012@hotmail.com)

Thanks and God bless.
>From Mrs. Pamela

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam