419 scam: " Shelia Othello"<Maxothello92@gmail.com> URGENT ATTN NEEDED

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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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: " Shelia Othello" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <shelia_abuothello92@yahoo.com.>
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 13:36:38 -0700
Subject: URGENT ATTN NEEDED

Dear Friend,
I know my message might come as a big surprise to you, but I sees you as the most qualified to advice me in this matter after going through your achievements, and an unmatchable records I am convince that you will guide me and my kid brother to an enviable height in life.

I see you as a role model and a mentor, an inspiration and a motivation for young people who are aspiring to make the best out of life in order to affect our world for good that I decided to write you for your kind assistance as I believe that you cannot mislead or miseducate me in this matter.

I am Shelia Abu Othello, 22 years from Tripoli, Libya with my brother Ramzy. We escaped to refugee camp here in Accra, Ghana. Our father confide a secrete to me with regard to our family treasure before his death as a result NATO Bomb blast during Libya crisis while working as a driver to Saif al-Arab Muammar Gaddafi.

I have an important need for your assistance. Can you please stand as the foreign beneficiary of our family inheritance on our behalf? I believe that you’re capable of guiding us (I and my kid brother) towards managing and investing our resources in your country as we have decided to continues our education in your country at the end of everything.

I am looking forward to your reply.

Yours Sincerely,
Shelia.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam