419 scam: Helen Carson <carlos453j@gmail.com> Urgent

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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:

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 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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Helen Carson <carlos453j@gmail.com>
Reply-To: helencarson30@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 00:49:16 +0000
Subject: Urgent

I am Mrs. Helen Carson 51 years, living in Abidjan, CÃ´te D'Ivoire, I
am a widow suffering from long time illness (Cancer), there is funds I
inherited from my late loving husband Mr. Carson Carlos, the sum of
(US$ 2.7 Million Dollars) which he deposited in bank before his death,
I need a honest and Faithful person that can use these funds for
humanity work.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit
this money and I don't want a situation where this money will be used
in an ungodly way. That is why I am taking this decision, and my
doctor has confirmed to me that I have less than two weeks to live,
having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a charity
or individual that will utilize this money to assist the poor and the
needy in accordance with my instructions.

I want you to use 70% of this funds for orphanages, school and church,
widows, propagating the word and other humanitarian works,The
remaining 30% should be yours for your efforts as the new beneficiary.

Please if you would be able to use these funds for humanity work
kindly reply to me. As soon as I have received your response, I will
give you further directives on how you are to go about the claims of
the said funds.

Remain blessed.
Mrs Helen Carson.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam