419 scam: "Ms.Linda Morris."<postmaster@atilimonline.com> From Ms.Linda Morris.

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "cheques " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms.Linda Morris." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lindamorr23@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:45:53 +0100
Subject: From Ms.Linda Morris.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I never knew the activities of Dr.James Harris my caring lover until he was arrested by the police in Brazil under Hard Drugs Charges that took his life in jail recently.Regardless of my age of 23 and qualification as a university graduate,Harris took me as a baby in his arms by buying a house for me in East London while I reside in a different house he rented and paid monthly till his death.He spoilt me with pleasures and relaxation.Harris thought me the secrets of erotic love during his occasional visit to me because he lived in Cardiff.He promised to marry me in the next two months.

He never wanted me to work, rather he issued a STANDING ORDER to his bankers and resolved that I should be allowed to make cash withdrawals or remittances from his deposit account at my discretion.Harris stamped and signed some of his cheque sheets but never wrote in the column of Date,Amount Payable and Name of Payee.These three columns in the cheque sheets were left for me to fill according to my demand.He left these cheques with me even before he traveled to Brazil and I have been cashing them for my financial needs.

Now the cheque book remains only one uncashed cheque sheet and his account balance remains: Fourteen Million,Three Hundred and Sixty-six Thousand Pounds, (BRITISH CURRENCY).I need it all because I want to relocate to another country or province.I still want to marry.I want to use the only remaining cheque sheet to clear all the account balance either in cash or remittances,but I don't have financial strength now to register for a bank account.I don't have a bank account and I will not keep such amount of money in cash in my house.

Be my friend! Please I'm in a confused state of mind on what to do about this.
Can you help me to clear this remaining money with this remaining cheque?.I need your advice and assistance. I can share with you.
In all confidence,Dr.Harris bankers does not know that Dr.Harris is dead.

Please Reply.

Be Blessed!

With Love From,

Ms.Linda Morris.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam