419 scam: Cathy Bills <mrs.cathybills55@att.net> Reply

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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)
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a "dying merchant" 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.
- cathybills55@aol.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Cathy Bills <mrs.cathybills55@att.net>
Reply-To: cathybills55@aol.com
Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 02:15:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Reply

Dear Friend,

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met.After searching through your country's Chamber of Commerce and industry here in London I am contacting you to assist me,I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday. My name is Mrs,Cathy Bills,a merchant here in London, presently taking medical treatment now. I have been diagnosed with Blood Cancer and Esophageal cancer that was discovered very late due to my uncaring attitude for my health. It has defiled all form of medicine and right now, I have only about a few weeks to live according to medical experts. To be honest with you, I was never generous, Now that I know my time is almost up, I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth.

The last of my money is the huge cash deposit ($21m) that I have with a security firm here in London (Alex Securities). I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations and let them know that it is me Cathy Bills that is making this generous donation. I am writing this from my laptop computer in my hospital bed where I wait for my time to come.

Please reply me through my private email address: cathybills55@aol.com

As soon as I received your sincere response, I will hence give you all the necessary details of how this can be done. I pray that you will support and assist me with good heart so that I can be able to achieve my goal. If you accept to help me do this, I promise you a reward of 30% of the ($21million U.S.D).

Thank you for understanding.

Cathy Bills.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam