419 scam: "Mrs. Christy" <christy@culturaypatrimonio.gob.ec> Please Read

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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Christy" <christy@culturaypatrimonio.gob.ec>
Reply-To: christy.xav@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 04:23:46 +0100
Subject: Please Read

I am Mrs. Christy Xavier an aging widow suffering from cancer, I have some =
funds I am willing to donate through you to non-profit charitable organizat=
ion amounting =A38.3Million pounds and an estate in Indiana, PA (USA). 50% =
of the total sum should be transferred to any orphanage home. You can help =
your community with the remaining 50% and for your services to carryout thi=
s last wish for me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------=0ANOTA DE DESCARGO.- La informaci=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BDn contenida en este mensaje electr=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BDnico y cualquier archivo anexo est=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BD dirigido =EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BDnicamente a su destinatario, es confidencial y solo podr=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BD ser usada por este. Si usted lo recibi=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BD por error o tuvo conocimiento del mismo sin ser su destinatario, le solicitamos notificar al remitente inmediatamente, y abstenerse de reproducir el mensaje mediante cualquier medio, remitirlo o entregarlo a otra persona, procediendo a su borrado de manera inmediata. El MINISTERIO DE CULTURA Y PATRIMONIO se reserva el derecho a seguir las acciones legales que corresponda contra todo tercero que acceda de forma ileg=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BDtima al contenido de cualquier mensaje o ante el uso inapropiado de nuestra informaci=EF=BF=BD
=EF=BF=B
Dn confidencial. Las opiniones que contenga este mensaje son de exclusiva responsabilidad de su autor y no necesariamente representan la opini=EF=BF=BD=EF=BF=BDn oficial del MINISTERIO DE CULTURA Y PATRIMONIO.=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam