419 scam: "Dominique Picole"<dominique.picole@ukho.gov.uk> Hello**

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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dominique Picole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dominique.picole@qq.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2015 10:02:18 +0100
Subject: Hello**

My name is Dominique Picole citizens of France but presently reside in United Kingdom, I was diagnose of Heart Cancer in December 2014 and am presently hospitalize now and have few days to live on earth. I have been touched in my heart to donate Two Million Great British Pounds Sterling (?2,000,000.00 GBP) from part of my Real Estate Investment inherited from my late Father to you for the good work of charity Organization. 10% can go for your personal needs for your time taken from your busy schedule to work with me on this sole act of charity. Am presently sending you this email seeking your assistance in helping me set up a charity organization in your country coined in both of our names which would be in existence long after am gone out of this world. I will be going in for a surgery soon and I want to make sure that I make this donation before undergoing my surgery.
I decided to donate my fund to you for investment towards the good work of charity, and also to help the motherless and less privilege and for the assistance of the widows and unfortunate mothers. At the moment I don't want any telephone calls due to my health condition I would have provided you with my Mobile number. I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly. It is true that I don't know you and you don't know me, no one came into this world knowing each other it only take time for people know each other, but I have been directed in my heart to contact you by grace. I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished. Kindly indicate your interest in helping me in this sole act of charity or not, until I hear from you my dreams will rest squarely on your shoulders.

Regard
Dominique Picole

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam