419 scam: "Mrs. Mercy Santos" <mrsmercysantos071@gmail.com> HELP ME NOW

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
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.
- mrsmercysantos071@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mercy Santos" <mrsmercysantos071@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 May 2022 11:43:30 +0100
Subject: HELP ME NOW

Dear Friend

My name is Mrs. Mercy Santos from the USA but I live in the UK. Am 61 years
old, a widow and a nurse but I stopped working because of my sickness. I
have a limited time to live on this earth and I am looking for someone
trustworthy to share my problem with. I don't know how you will feel about
it and reason with me positively. Bear with me if you wish to listen to me.

I lost my only sonâ€œ(4) years ago in an Auto crash with two (2) of her
friends and now my husband on the Corona virus / COVID-19 Pandemic.My
present health is the reason why I am contacting you, I am a sick woman
with CANCER and I have just (3) months to live on this earth according to
my doctors and I donâ€™t want to die living my late husbands deposited funds
of Â£25.5 million Pound's with the bank to seat on it, I am using this
opportunity crying out to you to be of assistance to lay claims to the
funds as the person who I have chosen to manage my late husband funds.

I am offering you this great opportunity because I know you will use the
funds Â£25.5 million pounds very well as a God fearing person whom I have
entrusted on, I sincerely want you to use the funds for Charity, Building
of Motherless Homes and Donation to less privileged, I will appreciate your
cooperation to achieve this goal for me knowing too well that you will also
benefit mutually from it.

I will need your information so that I will forward it to my attorney who
will legalize this transaction and make sure the Â£25.5 million Pounds is
transferred to your Bank account.. The information are below:

1. Your full name:
2. Telephone number:
3. Email address:
4. Occupation.
5. Your Address:

I don't want to die and allow the bank to sit on my late husband's funds.
As soon as I have the information, I will discuss with my attorney who will
legalize this transaction and make sure the funds are transferred to your
Bank account legally. Bear in mind that you are standing and my partner who
I have entrusted to lay claims to the funds . so get me the information now.

Acknowledge the receipt of this letter via e-mail address:
mrsmercysantos071@gmail.com

May God Bless you

Yours,

Mrs. Mercy Santos

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam