419 scam: "Lisa Betterman"<jenrobusa@optusnet.com.au> hello

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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Lisa Betterman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <lisabettermann@lycos.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2013 21:09:46 -0700
Subject: hello

Hello,

May our lord bless and you and your family in the name of God, in my search for a reliable and God fearing person and having gotten your contact through prayers and pains taking efforts via searching I made on the internet on my bed side. Presently, I'm in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment.

I am Mrs. Lisa Bettermann , I am deaf and suffering from a long time cancer of the lungs which also affected my health, according to my doctors they have advised me that I may not live for the next 12 weeks this is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. I was brought up from a motherless baby’s home, and I was married to my late husband for twenty three years without a child. My husband died in a fatal auto crash. Before his death we were true Christians and since his death I decided not to re-marry, I sold all my inherited belongings and deposited all the sum of $16 million dollars with a Security Company and also the Bank Of America.

This money is still with them and the management just wrote me as the true owner to come forward to receive the money for keeping it so long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I can not come over because of my illness or they get it confiscated Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs. I now decided to divide part of this wealth, by contributing To the development of evangelism and charity in Africa, America, Europe and Asian Countries.

i am waiting for reply I shall give you the contact of the Security Company. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Lastly, I want you to be praying for me as regards my entire life and my health. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and The sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. I await your urgent reply so i can provide you with a letter of authority.

In Christ,
Mrs. Lisa Bettermann

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam