419 scam: "Mrs. Linda Hills" <lindahills@123.com> Very Urgent

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- mrslindahills750@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Linda Hills" <lindahills@123.com>
Reply-To: mrslindahills750@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2012 05:57:10 -0500
Subject: Very Urgent

--
Dear Friend.

My Name is Mrs. Linda Hills,an auditor in (S.C.B) Standard Chartered Bank
of London UK, I have contacted you because I have carried out research
into a dormant account of a deceased client from your country at the
financial institute where I presently audit its Accounts; here in the
United Kingdom, and the client has no heirs. The account has a
significant amount of money in it. An account is judged to be dormant if
there has been no activity in it, or contact with the client, for 15
years.

Normally, account holders lose contact due to death without leaving a
will and There’s no known heir to inherit. The treasury department
receives the unclaimed Money unless a previously unknown distant relative
comes and puts a claim on it; Which is usually within a
limited time frame?

The United Kingdom ’s Treasury Department receives over £10bn every year
from Unclaimed estates; forgotten funds; abandoned shares and dormant
accounts and Some of it could be ours if we can work together as I can
provide all relevant Documents and information. We could present you as
the next of kin to deceased,as laid out in section 46 of the
Administration of Estates Act of 1925 (with Subsequent amendments) if you
agree to work with me.

I will need to enter into an agreement with you, which will cover the
Disbursement aspect of funds. Furthermore, you will have to sign a
consent form that gives the lawyer power of attorney to represent you at
the probate office (for the Procurement of the Grant of Probate).

The amount in question currently Stands at 300,000.00 (Three Hundred
Thousand British Pounds Sterling only).At the closure of this
transaction, 30% of the total funds will be yours. So, if You would like
to team up with me discreetly to secure these funds for Ourselves, please
have your full information sent to me which include full Name, address,
age, occupation and contact number(s).

I await your careful considered answer as when we proceed we cannot stop
half Way, as this is one in a life time opportunity to go big.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Linda Hills
Email: ( mrslindahills750@yahoo.co.uk )

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam