419 scam: "Mrs Aarti Patel"<mrsaartipatel@go2.pl> Re: LETTER TO YOU

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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)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- ",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 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.
- mrsaartipatels@cooltoad.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Aarti Patel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsaartipatel@sify.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:20:42 -0500
Subject: Re: LETTER TO YOU

11-JANUARY-2010

FROM THE DESK OF MRS AARTI PATEL
PRESIDENT/CEO OF
CON OIL INTERNATIONAL
REPUBLIC OF BENIN .
EMAIL: mrsaartipatels@cooltoad.com

ATTENTION: Dear Friend

I have a proposal for you - this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will. I am Mrs Aarti PATEL and I am a 59 years old woman. I am a South African married to an American national.

I was the President/CEO of CON OIL INTERNATIONAL-an oil servicing company in Johannesburg . I was also married with no child. My husband died 6years ago. Before this happened my business and concern for making money was all I was living for and I never really cared about other people. But since the loss of my Husband and also because i had have no child to call my own, I have found a new desire to assist the helpless, I have been helping orphans in orphanages/motherless homes/humanitarians. I have donated some money to orphans in Sudan , Dominica , Rep. du Congo, Spain , Botswana , ?sterreich and some Asian countries. IN SUMMARY: - I have 18,000,000.00 (Eighteen Million) U. S. Dollars which I deposited in a security company in Cotonou Benin republic as a family treasure & artefacts, please I want you to note that the security company does not know the real content to be money and I want you to assist me in claiming the consignment & distributing the money to
Before I became ill, I kept $18 Million in a long-term deposit in a security company which I declared as a family treasure & artifiarts.I is in the hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for oesophageal cancer and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. It is my last wish to see this money distributed to charity organizations.

Now my questions are:-

1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?

If you can sponsor this transfer, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Finally, it is my humble prayer that the information as contained herein is accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves. I Expect your urgent response if you can handle this project. Email me at mrsaartipatels@cooltoad.com

May the good Lord bless you and your family?

Best Regards.
Mrs Aarti Patel

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam