419 scam: Andy Harmon <mrsthelma1@taofestival.it> RE

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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 united states dollars" (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)
- ",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)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- andyharmon001@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Andy Harmon <mrsthelma1@taofestival.it>
Reply-To: andyharmon001@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2018 21:04:27 +0100
Subject: RE

Attention please,

I am a Principal Asset Manager in one of the leading international
banks. I respectfully seek your sincere consent in this profitable
proposal that i will explain to you.

Nine (9) years ago, precisely on Nov 6th, 2008, an Expatriate Oil
consultant/contractor with a Chinese mineral cooperation, deposited a
numbered sum of Twenty One Million United States Dollars(21,000,000
USD) in my branch valid for twelve calender months. We did not hear
from him since then.

However On further inquiries we found out He was involved in an
accident which means he died intestate, All paper works in my bank
revealed that he did not declare any next of kin or relations. This
means that no one will ever come for this money since its been nine
years. I can be able to make you the beneficiary of these funds
because you share the same surname with the deceased .

For all your troubles I propose that we split the money in half. Once
I get your willingness and response I will give you further
information on this huge deal, What I require is that you DO NOT
betray my confidence.

We should act swiftly on this if we are going to achieve it.

I wait your urgent response

Regards,
Andy Harmon
andyharmon01@yandex.com
andyharmon001@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam