419 scam: "Ashley MacArthur"<ash.macarthur@btconnect.com> Personal Mail...

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
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.
- +447005931187 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- bar.john.atkins@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ashley MacArthur" (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:02:07 +0100
Subject: Personal Mail...

Hello,

With Due Respect And Humanity, I was compelled to write to you under humanitarian grounds. My name is Mrs. Ashley MacArthur. I was born in Sheffield, England, I am married to Mr. Douglas MacArthur director ESPM Steel Ltd., United Kingdom.

We were married for 36 years without a child. He died four years ago after a Cardiothoracic Surgery. Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not live for the next five months due to my cancer problem (cancer of the uterus). Before my husband died, he deposited with a Bank in Scotland the sum of £14,000,258.00 (Fourteen Million Two Hundred and Fifty Eight Great British Pounds) .

Presently this money is still in the Bank's custody. Having known my condition I have decided to donate this fund to any God fearing brother or sister that will utilize this fund the way I would instruct herein. I want somebody that will use this fund according to the desires of my late husband to help the Less privileged, orphans, widows and propagating the word of God. I also want part of this fund to be donated to any humanitarian Organization presently in Haiti.

I took this decision because I would be going in for Surgery later today. I don't have any child that will inherit this fund, And I don't want this money to be used in an un-Godly way. This is why I am taking this decision to hand over to you this Fund. I am not afraid of death, because I know where I am going. I want you to always remember me in your daily prayers because of my up coming Surgery later today.

You are to work with my attorney who will assist you to see these funds transferred to your account and how the said funds is to be used for the good work of the Lord Almighty. I have already made provision for the legal charges involved with my lawyer.

Contact my lawyer with this info:

Backley & Atkins Firm.
Contact: Barr. John Atkins
128 Maltravers Road,Sheffield,
South Yorkshire S2 5AZ,
United Kingdom
Fax: +44-700-593-1187
Email: bar.john.atkins@gmail.com

If you find this mail appealing, kindly contact my attorney by quoting this reference number to him JA/TTL/801/3135/AM10/88se/UK . I write this mail to you solemnly with the faith that you will assist me in my last wishes. As soon as you contact him with the reference number above, he should be able to identify you, God bless.

With Regards,

Ashley MacArthur

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam