419 scam: "Patricia Irina Brown"<unwb@assist-unwb.org> GREETINGS

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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 beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- patriciabb@centrum.cz (Centrum; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Patricia Irina Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patriciab@centrum.cz>
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:19:40 +0700
Subject: GREETINGS

Dear Beloved,

I am Mrs. Patricia Irina Brown, i have been suffering from ovarian cancer disease and the doctor says that i have just few days to leave. i am from (eastern Province) Russian but base in Cambodia South East Asia since eight years ago as a business woman dealing with gold exportation.

Now that i am about to end the race like this without any family members and no child. i have $661,000,00 US Dollars in Canadian Bank Cambodia which i instructed the bank to give it to St Andrews Missionary Home in Phnom Penh.

But my mind is not at rest because i am writing this letter now through the help of my computer beside my sick bed. i also have $422,000,00 US Dollars with Cambodia Asia Bank (CAB) here in Phnom Penh and i have instructed them to transfer the money to my foreign partner off which i never mentioned any name to them.

As a christian i am always on christian search in Google where i got your email address, However i am here to inform you that your the lucky one to inherit this fund but has to be divided into two: 50% for you and 50% for the motherless and less privilege ones in your community.

YOU ARE TO CONTACT ME BACK IMMEDIATELY WITH FULL NAME AND PRESENT ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN FORWARD TO MY BANK HERE TO EFFECT THIS FUND TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

God Bless.

Yours Christian friend
Madam Patricia Irina Brown
Email: patriciabb@centrum.cz

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam