419 scam: "Mrs.Katharine Owen" <donationoffer@yahoo.co.jp> Hello Dear Friend,

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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.

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Katharine Owen" <donationoffer@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Katharine Owen" <katharineowen@barid.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 08:27:48 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello Dear Friend,

Hello Dear Friend,

I know
that this letter may be a very big surprise to you,I came across your
email contact from my personal search and I believe that you will be
honest to fulfill my final wish before I will die.

My
name is Mrs. Katharine Owen I am a dying woman who has decided to
donate what I have to you and the charity organization around your
community. I am 62 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 and because the doctors told me I will not live
longer than some weeks because of my health I decided to WILL/donate
the sum of $16.5 Million to you since I don't have a child.

You
should contact me immediately with your Complete contact information so
that I will put you in contact with the establishment to enable you
arrange with them on how to get the money for the purpose mentioned
above, I can't predict what will be my fate by the time you will receive
the fund,

But you should please ensure that the fund is used as l have described above.

Best Regards,
Mrs.Katharine Owen

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam