419 scam: barbara briggs <barbarabrigg@gmail.com> From Mrs. Barbara & Cynthia

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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: barbara briggs <barbarabrigg@gmail.com>
Reply-To: barbarabrigg001@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 23:03:19 +0800
Subject: From Mrs. Barbara & Cynthia

Hello

I am Mrs. Barbara Briggs, i am from United states of America currently
resides in London UK with my only daughter Cynthia, I am writing to
ask for your help to please accept my child Cynthia in the name of God
and help me to raise her up, I grew up as an orphan and now a widow, I
have nobody to help take care of her because I was recently diagnosed
cancer and I have only 2 months to live, I don’ t want her to suffer
again because she has suffered a lot ever since the death of her
father and my illness, we have the sum of €2.000.000 Two million Euros
inside a box here in a security company which we inherited from her
late father Desmond Briggs (my husband) I am willing to transfer this
box of money to you while you help my daughter Cynthia to come over to
your country to continue her education, and take care of her needs
until she grow up and be able to take care of herself, she is a lovely
child and I don’t want her to suffer, my husband people abandoned us
and confiscated all my husband properties in the states and even
planned to kills us due to their greed, we are hiding here in the UK
and I don’t want anything to happen to my beloved child, please help
me accept her as your own child and give her the best in life, please
do that and God will bless you and your family, We are willing to
offer you the 10% of the total money I told you about if you help me
to accept my child and train her for me. Like I said before, I have
only two months to live due to this cancer illness.

God bless you!

Mrs. Barbara & Cynthia

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam