419 scam: Mrs Lady Sophie Alex <ladysophie121@london.com> I hope that this e-mail reached 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)
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.
- aladysophie@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Lady Sophie Alex <ladysophie121@london.com>
Reply-To: aladysophie@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:36:18 -0300
Subject: I hope that this e-mail reached you

--
Dear Friend,

I hope that this e-mail reached you in the right frame of Mind.

I am Mrs Sophie Alex , I am suffering from cancerous ailment,When my late
husband was alive he deposited the sum of 4.8 Million Great Britain Pounds
Sterling which were derived from his vast estates and investment in capital
market with his bank here in UK. Presently, this money is still with the
Bank. Recently, my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to
the cancerous problems I am suffering from. Though what bothers me most is
the stroke that I have in addition to the cancer. With this hard reality
that has befallen my family, and me I have decided to donate this fund to
you and want you to use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to
fund the upkeep of widows, widowers, orphans, destitute, the down-trodden,
physically challenged children, barren women and persons who prove to be
genuinely handicapped financially.

Please contact me on the email below for further clarifications:

aladysophie@yahoo.com.hk

Lady Sophie Alex (ESQ.)
Arthur Cox Solicitors.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam