419 scam: "Mrs Joan Pitchell" <joanpitchell@msn.com> MY LAST WISHES......

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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 beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
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.
- joanpitchell222@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Joan Pitchell" <joanpitchell@msn.com>
Reply-To: <joanpitchell222@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:44:40 +0800
Subject: MY LAST WISHES......

Dear Beloved,

I seek your indulgence to solicit for your assistance concerning the content of my mail, although I am not comfortable discussing it this means due to lots of unsolicited mails on the internet presently, but I have no other medium to do so right now since the situation of my health is deteriorating.

My name is Mrs. Joan Pitchell, I got your information while browsing through Internet in search for a reliable/honest person who could be of help, I am a dying woman who has decided to donate what I have to you/Organization. I am 55 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer about 3 years ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who had left me everything he worked for. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for the good work of God than allow my relatives to use my husband hard-earned funds ungodly. Please pray that the good Lord forgive me my sins. I have asked God to forgive me and I believe he has because He is a merciful God.

I am married to Lt. Colonel Harold Pitchell, A retired Lt. colonel who is dead. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of 9,000,000.00 GBP (Nine Million Pounds Sterling) which were derived from his vast estates and investment in capital market with a security company in Malaysia.Presently, this money is still with the bank. My Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous problems I am suffering from. 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.

NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished, as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish. And Also I will be contacting with you by email, as I don't want my relation or anybody to know because they are always around me.I would prefer you contact me on my most private and confidential email address (joanpitchell222@hotmail.com)

Thanks and God bless.
Dr. Mrs. Joan Pitchell

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam