419 scam: "Bella Vicker"<mfm@lawyer.com> I NEED YOUR URGENT REPLY PLEASE !!

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
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.
- bella.vicker@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Bella Vicker" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bella.vicker@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:52:50 +0700
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT REPLY PLEASE !!

Hello Dear Sir/Madam

How are you doing today? hope you are fine, please i am writing you this message because you look so honest and trust worthy, my name is Bella Vicker from London, my parent died 3 years ago when i was still in school, and they left all the properties and wealth for me, after the burial of my parent i went back to school not knowing that my wicked Uncles have sold all the properties my parent left for me, i was very sad and because i am the only child of my parent there is nothing i can do, now the only thing i have left is the fund which is $25.5Million USD my father deposited with a security firm here in London, which i have contacted my family Lawyer and he gave me an advice to move the fund to your Country where i can invest it and live a good and happy life, i agreed with him because he is like a father to me, please i need you to help me claim and receive the fund there in your Country and after that i will meet you there for an investment, i am just an Ordinary girl i d
on't have any family now i need p

My Email is: bella.vicker@yahoo.com

please get back to me in this email if you are willing to help me, i will be grateful if i hear from you soon.

Regards,
Bella

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam