419 scam: "Mrs. Sherry Williams" <admin@bestfood.com.ni> 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:

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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" 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.
- mscarlpointe@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Sherry Williams" <admin@bestfood.com.ni>
Reply-To: mscarlpointe@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2022 15:00:47 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this
mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this opportunity to thank
you for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your account
due to one reason or the other best known to you.

But I want to inform you that I have successfully transferred the Check out
of the company to someone else who was capable of assisting me in this great
venture Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trust worthiness you
showed at the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my
gratitude to you with the sum $250,000.00 (two hundred Fifty thousand united
states Dollars)in addition to your lottery winnings of $500 thousand now
amounting to $750,000.00(seven hundred and fifty thousand United States
Dollars).

My dear friend I will like you to contact the finance house for the
collection of this international certified bank draft. The name and contact address
of the Person with your Check is Mr. Alfred Morris, is as follows.

COMPENSATION AND FINANCE HOUSE HEAD OFFICE

CONTACT AGENT: MR.ALFRED MORRIS.

Email: (mscarlpointe@gmail.com)

At the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects which
myself and my new partner are having at hand. Finally, remember that I have
forwarded instruction to the finance house on your behalf to send the bank
draft to you as soon as you contact them without delay. Please I will like
you to accept this token with good faith as this is from the bottom of my
heart.

Thanks and God bless you and your family. Hope to hear from you soon.
My sincere advice to you as a Christian is that you should endeavor to pay
your tithe to a bible believing church when you get the prize.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Sherry Williams

N:B So sorry for have contacted you for so long it was due to the fact that
i was responding to medical treatment i went for surgery and ever since I
came back I couldn't locate you until i finally made it. That was why I am
contacting you back to inform you that I finally made it as a result of this I
had to compensate you with this offer.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam