419 scam: "Ester Barnor"<eruka01@yahoo.com.hk> Attn: My Dearest.

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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 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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ester Barnor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ea20101@naseej.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 23:42:13 -0800
Subject: Attn: My Dearest.

My Dearest,

My name is Mrs. Ester Barnor I am 63 years old, I am a dying woman who have
decided to donate what I have to you/churches/ motherless babies/less privileged/widows.I was
diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago. I have been touched by god to donate from what I have
inherited from my late husband to you for good work of god. I have asked god to forgive me and
believe he has because he is a merciful god. I will be going in for an operation Next week Monday.I
decided to WILL/donate the sum of 10.7 million dollars to you for the good work of god, and also to help the
motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows. At the moment I cannot
take any telephone calls right now due to the fact that my relatives (That have squandered the
funds I gave them for this purpose before) are around me and my health status also.

I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware. I wish you all the best and
may the good god bless you abundantly, and please use the Funds judiciously and always extend the
good work to others. As soon you get back to me, I shall give you info on what I need from you then
you will contact my bank and tell them I have willed (10.7 million dollars) to you by quoting my
personal reference number: Jlk/Wds/95773/50015/GwrI/3196us/GH and I have also notified my bank
that I am willing that amount to you for a good, effective and prudent work. I know I don't know
you but I have been directed to do this by god.

Thanks and god bless.
Regards,
Mrs. Ester Barnor

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam