419 scam: "MRS. JENIFER WOODWARD" <jeniferwoodward@activist.com> IT'S 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 united states 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)
- "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.
- jenniferwodward@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. JENIFER WOODWARD" <jeniferwoodward@activist.com>
Reply-To: jenniferwodward@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 26 May 2012 09:05:33 -0400
Subject: IT'S URGENT

Beloved,

I am Mrs. Jennifer Woodward, you may think I do not know you but My spirit led
me to write you, I got your ID from Internet and you really have to help me to
achieve this dream for God's sake. I write you with heavy tears in my eyes and
great sorrow in my heart because my Doctor informed me that I will die in 3
weeks time due to my complicated health issues (CANCER)based on this, I want
to WILL my money (10.5 million United States Dollars) to a faithful and God
fearing person who will use it as I will instruct you, having grown up in the
orphanage home and I know what it means to be an ORPHAN,I have no family to
take care of it. The funds will be used to assist your charity organizations,
the orphanage homes and help the people involved in any form of natural
disaster only.
Please,let this affair be between us only until money is successfully
transferred to your account for safety reasons God bless you.Please reply me
only on:jenniferwodward@yahoo.co.jp

Mrs. Jennifer W.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam