419 scam: "Mrs. Jane Williams"<janewilliamsx@lycos.com> Re: Dear Trusting Friend

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
- janewilliamsx@lycos.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Jane Williams" (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 15:58:30 -0800
Subject: Re: Dear Trusting Friend

>From Mrs Jane Williams
Centre De Sante Bethesda Hospital
83BP:1730 Gbejromede
Cotonou Benin Republic

Dear Trusting Friend,

It is with tears and pains that I write this mail from my sick bed in a hospital. I believe you have never met such a condition before. My name is Mrs. Jane Williams, widow to late Mr. Peter Williams,former owner of PETROLEUM AND GAS Company, here in Benin Republic .

I am 68years old, suffering from long time cancer of the breast.From all indications my condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live more than 2 months according to my doctors. This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. I don't want your pity me, but I need your trust. My late husband died in December 2003 in a plane crash in Benin ,please check,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm

And during the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child.My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth. The doctor has advised me that I will not live for more than 1 month, so I have now decided to spread all my wealth, to contribute mainly to the development of charity in Africa,America , Asia and Europe . Am sorry if you are embarrassed by my mail.I found your e-mail address as a real Child of God for over a month now that I have been praying about you to know if really you are working according to the direction of God so after all my prayers I am convince, and I have decided to contact you, but if for any reason you find this mail offensive, you can ignore it and please accept my apology before my late husband died he was a major oil tycoon, in Benin and deposited the sum of $6,000,000.00 in abroad some years ago, That's all I have left now,I need your help to collect this funds and distribute it yourself to chari
ty homes. So that when I die my s

contact me from this mail:( janewilliamsx@lycos.com )

God bless you.
Regards
Mrs Jane Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam