419 scam: "Mrs. Josephine Eric"<mrs.josephine.eri@gmail.com> Good News For 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:

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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "dr.jean_ben@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Josephine Eric" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.josephine.erii@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 23:56:24 +0100
Subject: Good News For You

Dear Friend,

How are you today? You may not understand why this mail came to you. We have been having series of meeting for the past 5 months which ended 2 days ago with the secretary to the African Union. I am Mrs. Josephine Eric of AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION for the East African District Office.

Please note that this email is to all persons and organizations that have lost money to financial fraud and organized crime syndicates that is traceable to Africa, the AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION has agreed to compensate them with the sum of US$(950,000.00) This includes every foreign contractor that may not have received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.

We found your name in our list and that is why we are contacting you, these have been agreed upon and have been signed. You are advised to contact our paying center as they are our representative in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Contact them immediately for the approved transfer of USD$950,000.00 to your nominated bank account. Therefore, you should send to Dr. Jean Ben your full Name, your direct telephone number and your correct Postal Address where you want them to send any necessary document. Contact Dr. Jean Ben immediately on the below listed contact information.
Dr Jean Ben.
Financial Director
Plot 540, Block F, Mabibo Nelson Mandela Road, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Email: (dr.jean_ben@live.com)

We will request you to get back to this office as soon as you have received and confirmed your payment in your bank.

Regards.
Mrs. Josephine Eric
(For African Union Commission).
PO Box 3243. Addis-Ababa , Ethiopia.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam