419 scam: "Mrs. Selby Anderson" <selbyanderson@ymail.com> In My WILL...

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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "selbyanderson@ymail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
- pkbrownesq@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Selby Anderson" <selbyanderson@ymail.com>
Reply-To: pkbrownesq@aol.com
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2012 06:25:04 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: In My WILL...

Mrs. Selby Anderson
Email: selbyanderson@ymail.com

Hello Dear,

My name is Mrs. Selby Anderson, I am a dying woman who have decided to donate
what I have to you/ church. I am 59 years old and I was diagnosed for
cancer for about 2 years ago, immediately after the death of my husband,
who has 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, rather 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 will be going in for an operation in
less than one hour.
I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $2,500,000 (two million five hundred
thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to help
the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the
widows.
At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls right now due to the fact
that my relatives are around me and my health status. I have adjusted my
WILL and my lawyer is aware I have changed my will you and he will arrange
the transfer of the funds from my account to you.
I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and
please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others.
Contact my lawyer (Barrister Parker Brown) with this specified email:
Pkbrownesq@aol.com and tell him that I have WILLED ($2,500,000.00) to
you and I have also notified him that I am WILLING that amount to you for a
specific and good work. I know I don?t know you but I have been directed to
do this. Thanks and God bless.
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.
Regards,
Mrs. Selby Anderson

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