419 scam: "Mrs. Russell." <info@live.com> Can i trust you with this?

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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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Russell." <info@live.com>
Reply-To: mrs.stacyrussell@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:01:45 -0400
Subject: Can i trust you with this?

My Dear,

I am Mrs.Stacy Russell from Dublin Ireland, married to Lloyd Russell
who worked with Texaco Oil Company in Malaysia before he died in a
ghastly motor accident some years back

My Husband and i were married but without any child . Since his death
I decided not to re-marry and presently I am 72 Years old. When my
late husband was Alive he deposited the sum of $4.2 million dollars
with a Bank in the UNITED KINGDOM.
Presently this money is still with the Bank and the management has
been sending me mails as the beneficiary to come forward to receive
the money or rather Issue a letter of authority to somebody to receive
it on my behalf. I am presently in a hospital where I have been
undergoing treatment on Cancer of the lungs. I have lost my ability to
talk and my doctors have told me that I have few weeks to live, so I
think the best thing to do is to use the money for charity purposes. I
want a person who is trustworthy that I will make the beneficiary of
my late Husband's Fund deposited with the bank so that the person can
get the money and utilize 95% to fund churches,Mosques, widows and to
build an orphanages home in my name when i am gone and 5% to you for
carrying this task in good will.

As soon as I receive your response, I shall tell you what to do next
and how to get in contact with the Bank. Please assure me that you
will act accordingly as I stated here and Keep this contact
confidential till such a time this funds get to your possession.

Contact my email below for more info

I await your urgent reply.

Regards,
Mrs. Russell.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam