419 scam: "mrscarolinekown1@protonmail.com" <mrscarolinekown1@protonmail.com> Dear 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:
- "million united states 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "mrscarolinekown1@protonmail.com" <mrscarolinekown1@protonmail.com>
Reply-To:
"mrscaroliinekowan@protonmail.com" <mrscaroliinekowan@protonmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2020 11:11:08 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Dear friend

Good Day!
My Name is Mrs Caroline Kowan I work with Lloyds Bank here in Ivory Coast.
I am looking for a genuine and sincere investor that will help me to
invest, I have in my banks the existence of a big amount of money valued at
(Twenty Eight Million United States Dollars) that belongs to a customer Mr.
Johnson Montalto, a Crude Oil dealer and a citizen of your country, Sadly
Johnson was among the death victims in the March 11 2011 Earthquake
disaster in Japan that killed over 230,000 people. I am now seeking your
cooperation to present you as Next of Kin/Heir to his account since you are
a foreigner and my bank headquarters will release the account to you for
investment.
I want you to reply urgently so I will give you full details on how this
business transaction/Investment will be executed. Please listen, this is
real and goes on in Banks all over the world without people knowing. Let us
utilize this opportunity because it does not always come, A lot of
customers open private accounts with different Banks without the knowledge
of their families and when they die, the money will be lost to the Bank
unless someone comes to claim it. This is how a lot of Bank Directors make
so much money silently. Also note I have the ability to conduct this
transaction with total confidentiality with any company or individual
involved, Anticipating your communication.
Regards,
Mrs Caroline Kowan

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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam