419 scam: "Mrs. Patricia Maria Howard"<info@idirectcontact.com> 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:

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:
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024032173 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- honjerrybrown@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- you can also contact my lawyer on his private email (honjerrybrown@gmail.com) his name is jerry brown cell phone number +447024032173. (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Patricia Maria Howard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patmaria74@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2015 22:08:15 -0700
Subject: My Dearest Friend

My Dearest Friend

Hello my beloved.I do respect your privacy here. But i have
no other ways to contact you or even to communicate with
you, then now I found the easier place to meet someone like
you, Please dont think that I may have taking an
advantage to know you on this Social Network I have no any
other means to get an advice from you than this.

First and foremost, I apologize using this medium to reach
you for a transaction of this magnitude. I am Mrs. Patricia
Maria Howard, from republic of Ireland, born in the state of
Ohio USA. I am legally married to Mr. Michael woody
Howard, a British citizen born and brought up in
Switzerland, I live in Switzerland with my husband for 32
years before we moved down to United Kingdom in 1985 after
my husband retirement in 1974, I am 74 years old by his
grace, I am suffering from long time cancer. All indication
from my doctor that my conditions are really deteriorating
and it is quite obvious that I wouldn't live more than three
months. My dear husband was involved with the January 2000
Kenya airways plane crashed as you can see on the news line
web site. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/
Africa/6627485.stm, I choose you after viewing your
profile and I have confident in you because I have prayed. I
am willing to donate the sum of $20.5m U.S dollars, to the
less privileged.

I await urgent reply. You can also contact my lawyer on
his

Private email (honjerrybrown@gmail.com)

His Name is Jerry Brown

Cell phone Number +447024032173.

Remain blessed,

Get back to me on patmaria74@gmail.com

Mrs. Patricia Maria Howard.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam