419 scam: MRS PATRICIA CLOUGH <chiuga01@gmail.com> I NEED YOUR HELP

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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:

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 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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: MRS PATRICIA CLOUGH <chiuga01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wilbocu6@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:44:25 -0800
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP

*Greetings*

*Good day, My name is Mrs. Patricia Clough, I`m 60 years old, widow,
married to late Engr Thomas Clough ,who until his death,worked with Dutch
Filtration for Twenty-Six years before he died in the year 2007 after a
brief illness that lasted only five days. When my late husband was alive he
deposited the sum of US$50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Dollars) in a bank
and we all agreed as a couple to donate all of that to charity.Following my
health (Cancer), my Doctor told me that I may not live longer than required
due to my health condition.Looking forward to seeing someone who can use
this money in charitable works. More details will be made known to you upon
your response to this email.*

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam