419 scam: Margaret Spencer <md294255@gmail.com> hi friend

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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)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
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.
- margaretspencer543@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Margaret Spencer <md294255@gmail.com>
Reply-To: margaretspencer543@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2022 18:02:06 +0100
Subject: hi friend

Good day my dear friend,I pray that the peace of the Lord will be with you
and to your family in this new year.I call you my friend even though I do
not know you but from what i am going to share with you here,you will have
reason to appreciate me and accept me as your good friend indeed.

My name is Ms.Margaret Spencer.I am a 68 year old widow from the United
States.My husband and my only son Martin died in a motor accident in 2013
and since then i have been living all to myself and not marrying again
because of the love and respect i have for my late husband.

I am a good Christian and a caregiver. believing in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Unfortunately I have been very sick with cancer which has
defiled all medical attention,the pain is excruciating and the doctors
have ruled that I might be dying at any time.I feel like taking my life
myself because of the unbearable pains but because of the faith i have in
God.

I was actually searching for a trusted person and a believer like me to
gift my money and the spirit directed me to you immediately i came across
your page.

Before the death of my husband I have a joint account with him in the
American Express bank with the sum of $15 Million dollars . As a
caregiver,I intended to use the money for charity to help the people of my
country, especially the poor and the orphans and the less privileged
anywhere I can reach them.

But now considering my poor health condition,I want to gift you the money
as the charity.I am sure that if the money gets to you,then you will be
able to share it with others too.

I know how much you will love to have the money so i am gifting it to you
with all my heart so you could use it to take care of yourself and those
around you especially those poor and underprivileged persons who are
affected by the devastating and harsh condition of Covid-19 pandemic.This
is my wish for the money.

I will only need you to send me your full names ,address and telephone
number so I can send you a certified check to cash the money.

Please do not ignore this message or think this could be some kind of
scam,I know you may have been receiving such emails but please do not take
this as one of those.

.I want you to accept the offer as a token of my magnanimity and love to
humanity and mankind.This is my humble sacrifice to the Glory of God.

If you will accept my offer,I will like you to send me your details on my
email margaretspencer543@gmail.com and as soon as i get iti will
immediately send you the check

With love from your friend
Ms.Margaret Spencer

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam