419 scam: "Amanda Smith"<admin@biz-china.net> .My Dearest 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.

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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us dollars" (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 "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Amanda Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <amanda121smith@outlook.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 18:35:26 +0700
Subject: .My Dearest Friend

Dearest in the Lord,

Nice to meet you here. My name is Mrs Amanda Smith from United Kingdom. However I know this message may come to you as a surprise, Please consider this with all seriousness as I solicit your assistance in the most polite language. I went through your profile and counted you worthy for this transaction. I am a dying woman who had decided to donate what I have to Charities, I am 68 years old by age, and was diagnosed of cancer about three years ago immediately after the death of my husband, and what my husband left for me in this world is not that important since we are passing our life in this world so we can have a place in Heaven I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband for the good work of God, Rather than allow his relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds ungodly and i am doing this based on what a prophet told me that i have to use what i have to help the poor and people in need, charitable homes, less privileges so that God will have mercy on my simple

As I lay on my sick bed, I want you to help me in carrying out my last wish on earth which will be profitable to you also. I want to WILL a total sum of ($7.5 Million US Dollars) to you which I want you to distribute part of it to any charity home. For your kindness on this work you are to carry out, I am offering you 40% while 60% of the Fund will go to any Charity organizations of your choice for me, please I am looking forward to hearing from you soon so that i can give you more details.

Thank you and God bless.

Amanda Smith

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam