419 scam: "Mrs. Patricia Abarq" <mrspatricia--abarq@att.net> (HIGHLY PRIVATE CONFIDENTIAL)

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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 us 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.
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.
- +27737244648 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Patricia Abarq" <mrspatricia--abarq@att.net>
Reply-To: davidkufi@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2011 04:16:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: (HIGHLY PRIVATE CONFIDENTIAL)

JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA.
+27 737244648 (HIGHLY PRIVATE CONFIDENTIAL)

Good Day

I got your contact courtesy of the South African chamber of commerce
and Industry business Directory here in Johannesburg, name is Mrs.Patricia abarq the former wife of DEFENCE MINISTER Johnson kufi of the republic of GABON in Central Africa.I and my only son are presently residing in Johannesburg, South Africa where we are seeking political Asylum following the latest dissolution of our 28 year-old marriage.
Before my marriage with the defence minister Johnson abarq finally broke-up, I was able to move out some reasonable sum of Money in US$ currencies out of the Presidential Villa in Libraville, which I intend to invest for myself and my only son. This fund amounts to a total of US$20M(Two Million US dollars)and this money is safely kept in the security vault of a private security company in Johannesburg pending when I will find a trusted foriegn business partner.
I am interested in any business you think can be very viable in your
country as long as the business will not fail me because the lives of me and my son depends on this money as we may never in life go back to his father who outrightly abandoned us. In your reply please indicate a few businesses you think will be of mutual benefit to both myself and yourself. We will be glad to part with a reasonable percentageof the total fund to you for all your assistance towards moving this money out of Johannesburg to your country and helping us in term of reasonable investment opportunities that will be of mutualbenefitto my family and also your humble self.
Please indicate your willings and also include your private phone and fax numbers for quicker communication, the above numbers are my privatetelephone and fax numbers.For further enquiries, you may wish to call me or my son on the above telephone numbers.

Please maintain absolute confidentiality of this previllaged piece of information and proposal as it is never the wish of me and my son that His father (Johnson abarq)ever know our wayabout for life. Hoping to meet you very soon as our business relationship improves.God bless you as we await your favourable reply.

Mrs.patr abarq colins abarq lana abarq

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam