419 scam: CELESTINABROWN <bbzbbz@att.net> URGENT FAMILY HELP NEEDED

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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27788217643 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- brown1977@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- celestina brown johannesburg south african, email; eric. brown1977@gmail.com. tel: +27 -788 217 643 (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: CELESTINABROWN <bbzbbz@att.net>
Reply-To: eric.brown1977@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 1 May 2010 05:27:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT FAMILY HELP NEEDED

FROM: MRS CELESTINA BROWN
Johannesburg South African,
Email; eric.
brown1977@gmail.com.
Tel: +27 -788 217 643

                                        URGENT FAMILY HELP NEEDED
  Good
day,
Naturally, this letter will come to you as a
surprise since we have not met, permit me however, I am CELESTINA
BROWN wife of Zimbabwean Farmer Mr. PATRICT BROWN.  I am contacting you as the
need for me to have a foreign partner in your country has become necessary
due to my plans to relocate and establish a private company in that
region.  As the
present political instability in my country Zimbabwe, does not
encourage financial investment, as the environment is not conducive
for investment and most of all security is not insured, just as
reported by international media.

This problem started when the Zimbabwean
government under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe announced
a degree on May 31st 2000 to seize more than 849 white-owned farms.
So far, more than 1,400 white owned farms have been invaded and
confiscated, as well as claiming the properties of the farmers.  Therefore, I decided to
contact you, for your assistance, so that I can establish a company
in your country and relocate there with this money mine father kept
for me in a security and trust company in South Africa.

Which amounted to US$11.5 Million, I will upon
receiving this money on my behalf, pending my arrival to meet with
you in your country so that we can both make further arrangements
with regards to establishing the Company.  As a partner you will be
entitled to 25% of the total sum, and in whichever company that we
both decide to establish, when I arrive your country we shall discuss
that facially. You can contact my son; MR.ERIC BROWN, and email us
through this Email;eric.brown1977@gmail.com
TEL; +27 788 217 643

I am waiting urgently for your email through this.
And also view our political
website:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/594522.stm

Cheers and God bless.
Best Regards,
MRS CELESTINA BROWN

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam