419 scam: "SANDRA COLE"<sandcole75@gmail.com> My Dear Friend sorry to disturb you

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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.
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.
- sandarcole21@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "SANDRA COLE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sandarcole21@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2015 17:12:07 +0100
Subject: My Dear Friend sorry to disturb you

My Dear Friend,

I'm sorry to disturb you with this proposal. My name is Sandra B. Cole, I'm a British Citizen who lives
in London. I attend university and work part time as a dress maker.

I lost my father in an auto accident prompting my mothers death because of it. My Father, James Cole,
willed me a large portion of his real estate holdings and income properties valued at 50,700,000 Pounds
Sterling.

I have yet to place a clam on it but right now things are not good and I'd like to have it. My Fathers stipulation
was that I was either 30 years of age or married (allowing my Husband to be in control). I am 24 years old now,
so only my husband can make a claim on my behalf. I'd like to offer you the opportunity to stand in as my
Husband or Next of Kin and will share 40% of it for your trouble.

I plan on using 10% for any travel or legal expense incurred. I am trusting you will keep this matter and this proposal
completely confidential, as I will. I'm waiting for you to get back to me as I'd like to get started as soon as we can.

With Love,

Sandra B. Cole
sandarcole21@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam