419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- ",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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- revbartholomewministes@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Rev Dr. Sermon Bartholomew"
<Dr.SermonBartholomew1226@ucount.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <revbartholomewministes@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 06:55:49 -0500
Subject: =?utf-8?q?=C2=A310=2C000=2C000=2E00_Great_British_Pounds_beneficiary_fund?=
=?utf-8?b?cz8/Pw==?=

>From Rev Dr. Sermon Bartholomew
Poly Clinic Abidjan, Cote dÌvoire
with due respect,

My name is Rev Dr. Sermon Bartholomew a Medical Doctor born in Sierra Leone but residing here in London.
As a matter of urgency my patient (Mrs Rosemarie Blumen Moldenhauer) a widow, a German born citizen was at the point of death here in American Poly Clinic Cote d Ìvoire,when she made an oral expression of her will (Oral Will)
few days ago for her bond investment of £10,000,000.00 Great British Pounds Sterling, with one of the Bank Institution Europe .She mandated me as her nearest and trusted person, to find a good citizen man or woman who will invest this fund in a good business and use it for humanitarian assistance also to help the less privileged in the Asia, Africa but concentrated on the third world countries, and other parts of the world. If this proposal interests you do not hesitate to get back to me so
as to update you on the next step to take.

Best Regards
Rev Dr. Sermon Bartholomew.
Contact email:revbartholomewministes@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam