419 scam: "Joan Gates" <joangates95@gmail.com> YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
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.
- joangates95@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Joan Gates" <joangates95@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2019 16:32:53 -0500
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED

My Dear Friend, Am Mrs. Joan Gates from UK, married to Dr. James.R Gates who worked with Texaco Oil Company in UK, before he died in a ghastly motor accident on his way to a Board meeting. We both married without children. Although he deposited the sum of $5.5M. with a Bank , and the management just wrote me to Issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf. I am presently in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment Cancer of the lungs and inability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live and the best thing to do is to use the money for charity purposes. I want a person who is trustworthy that I will make the beneficiary of my late Husband's Fund deposited with the bank so that the person can get the money and utilize 70% of this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows around the world and keep the remaining 30% for his effort. I hope you act sincerely.while you send me your details if you are interested .As soon as I receive your information, I shall give you the contact details of the bank, and the authorization letter. This is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on Earth. I await your urgent reply via my private email (joangates95@gmail.com) Regards, Mrs. Joan Gates

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam