419 scam: "Vanessa Brooks"<vbrooks009@gmail.com> URGNET INFO: 29.03.23

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "keep this confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Vanessa Brooks" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vanessaBrooks00@att.net>
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2023 07:54:33 -0700
Subject: URGNET INFO: 29.03.23

Dear friend,

I understand that we have not met before I got your contact after a search , but I am reaching out to you with a heavy heart as a cancer patient with limited time remaining.

I wish to entrust a charitable project to a trustworthy and loyal person as my final act of goodwill. Due to my condition, I am no longer able to carry out these philanthropic efforts on my own. I understand that this may seem unusual, and it is risky for me to make such a proposal to a stranger, but my late husband's cruel relatives and rivals are seeking to harm me for my wealth. That is why I am reaching out to you in secrecy to fulfill my husband's last wishes.

If you are willing to help, I ask that you keep this confidential and respond to me so that we can discuss further. I hope you can understand my situation and offer your assistance.

Thank you,

Warm Regards.

Rev. Vanessa Brooks

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam