419 scam: "Dorothy O’Connor"<revoconnor@mailzship.gdn> Hello and Merry Christmas!

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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dorothy O’Connor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revoconnor@privatectc.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2017 12:37:18 -0800
Subject: Hello and Merry Christmas!

Hello and Merry Christmas,

May the piece of our lord be unto you and your family as we celebrate His birth.

I am Reverend Sister Dorothy O’Connor a nun working in St. Peter's Church here in Melaka, Malaysia. I apologize for the lateness of this message, as I have been very busy.

Firstly, I offer my condolences on the demise of Rev. Father Acheson. As you know, Father Acheson died in August, and before he died, he amended his will which favors you in a big way. I am not surprised but glad that he made you the heir to his $2Million fortune, remembering that you were the only one was really there for him during the end of his days. Anyway, your fortune was safely deposited with a security company in London by Father Acheson himself, I only have the documentations of the deposit.

To claim your inheritance, reply back to me at your earliest convenience, and please include the details below to enable me file for the change of ownership with the security company.

Your full names as it is written in your government issued identification;

Your home/work address;

Your date of birth;

Your occupation;

Your phone numbers.

As soon as I receive this information I will start the filing as Father Acheson instructed.

Yours truly,

Rev. O’Connor

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam