419 scam: "Mrs. Agatha Abubakar" <vt_xnkhaithac@vinaapaco.com> 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:

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:
- "million british pounds" (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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- nc33302@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Agatha Abubakar" <vt_xnkhaithac@vinaapaco.com>
Reply-To: nc33302@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2016 22:36:03 -0700
Subject: Hello

Dearest

My Name is Mrs. Agatha Abubakar, I was married to Late Dr.Ali Abubakar who was an oil merchant, We were married for eighteen years with one son whom also past away after the death of his father on an airplane crash . Before the painful exit of my husband, we deposited the sum of (Ten Million British Pounds) in the bank and this money is still with the Bank.

In 2012 I started suffering cancer, fibroid problems and hearing impairments recently, because of my health condition i decided to donate this money to a single reliable person, who will use the Fund to build orphanage home and help the poor.

I am taking this decision because I do not have anybody who will inherit this money, since my husband relatives have been very hostile and unkind to me since after the death of my husband . I do not have any trace to any of my family relatives because my parents eloped to United Kingdom due to war and never mentioned home till they all past away. I don't know how long i have on this earth and if i do not will this money to anyone, the Bank will take it, which is the reason i want to bequeath it to you so that you can use it to help the poor in your country.

for legitimacy, I will Also give you a letter of authority (power of attorney) which will establish you to be my appointed beneficiary to this money. If you delay in replying this mail, I will look for another individual who will accept to use this money to help the poor.

Remain blessed
Email: nc33302@gmail.com
Mrs. Agatha Abubakar

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam