419 scam: "Mrs. Catherine Edwards."<cathie@biblestudy.org> Regarding My Decision

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (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.
- mrscatherine.edwards@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Catherine Edwards." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrscatherine.edwards@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2014 10:49:48 -0700
Subject: Regarding My Decision

Dear friend,

I wish you find it in your heart to forgive me if my email does not meet your personal ethics,

but after praying fervently to God Almighty, I have summond up courage to seek for your

assistance in carrying out my last wish considering my health condition, as I was diagnosed

of an esophageal cancer which has gotten to a critical and life threatening stage, hence, my

decision to make you the beneficiary to the sum of $6.7 Million USD presently lying in the

bank, as you only needed to assure me that the funds which am about to bequet to you will

be properly utilized for the upkeep of the less priviledged, widows, destitutes and orphans in

the society. I will give you more details regarding this project as soon as I receive a positve

response from you through my private email: mrscatherine.edwards@gmail.com

Remain Blessed.

Mrs. Catherine Edwards.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam