Fraudulent Email Deals - Ophans and Widows Need Your help!

Business Scams: Poor widows, orphans and friends of super wealthy diplomats, Generals, Presidents and whatever... with millions in an account that you can help get!

Below are links to sample actual emails of this type of scam, along with how to recognize the scam and report them. These are of a type called "The Advance Fee Fraud (AFF)" email is also known as "419" after the section of the Nigerian penal law that deals with this type of fraud. It takes many forms, we have categorized the scams below as "Orphans and Widows of wealthy diplomats, generals, presidents, etc. and wealthy people dying of cancer"

How to Recognize a Business Scam

Let's look at some actual emails people received and see how we can spot that they are scams. In general, notice the awesome amount of misspellings, poor grammar and run-on sentences.  Even if they weren't scams, would you go into business with someone who writes like that?

  1. Rosemary Burrows (Rosy B), "Greetings in the name of God, Please let this not sound strange to you, for my only surviving lawyer who would have done this died early this year. To that effect, I prayed and searched and got your email id from your country's Christian guestbook. ... I have completely lost the ability to talk. It is my last wish to see that this money is invested in any organization of your choice..."
  2. Miss Lyna Loes, DEAREST ONE, ASSIST ME PLEASE, "I am miss Lyna Loes.the only Daughter Of Mr and Mrs Usman Loes. from Ivory Coast."
  3. Mrs. Kate Solomon, "Beloved Is your Turn to Shine !! Reply As you Are Chosen By God"
  4. Benson Jones., "I am writing to seek your partnership in the investment of my inheritance fund USD $11.5M from my late father who died mysteriously on 27 January, 2003.", "to serve as a guardian to me and as my foreign partner for the investment of my inheritance fund overseas"
  5. Doylce Douglas, "THIS IS ABOUT MY SON JOHNSON! PLEASE LOVE AND TAKE CARE OF HIM.", "My Dearest Beloved, ...take care of my son please. He is only 9 years old and we have no person here to take care of him if I die today.." and take my "580,000.00 British Pounds in a Barclays bank London", too!
  6. Judith Johnson, Adopt My Daughter, Please, "My husband, a local chief in our community is late and we have only one daughter. Our tradition forbids women to inherit estates of their deceased husband, it is worse when a woman did not have a male child for a deceased chief.", "I was advised by the management of the vaulting company that the only way the fund could be released to us is that we find somebody who will adopt my daughter
  7. Mrs. Margarita Lee, "Barrister Frank Henry", "to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for the good work of God, rather than allow my husbands relatives to use my husband hard earned funds ungodly,since we had no kids to inherit them.
  8. Mrs Stella Cole, "Here writes Mrs Stella Cole (Phd.Msc,Fsd). I am married to Pharmacist Dave Cole an Englishman who died years ago.", "to use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to fund the upkeep of widows, widowers, orphans, destitute, the down-trodden, physically challenged children, barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped financially"
  9. Mrs. Helene Heather Thomson Sneddon, USE THIS FUND FOR CHILDREN LORD - "Calvary greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am Mrs. Helene Heather Thomson Sneddon, I am a nationality of Canada, I grew up in Iraq and I am also presently hospitalized in Baghdad Iraq, due to my illness. Presently, I'm with my laptop in this Hospital, where I have been undergoing treatment of cancer for over one year.
  10. Mrs. Jessica Williams, "Greetings in the name of Our Lord dear beloved friend. With all sincerity and humility, it is with deep pains I write you this message of wishful assistance to my predicament, I am Mrs. Jessica Williams, undergoing medical treatment in London, am 58 years old, I am deaf and suffering from a long time cancer of the breast which also affected my brain
  11. Mrs. Esther Williams, "Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am former Mrs. Fatima Mohammed Abdul, now Mrs. Esther Williams, A widow to the Late Sheik Mohammed Abdul, I am 72 years old, I am now a new Christian convert, suffering from long time cancer of the breast."
  12. Jeromi Mbeke, "First of all i am sorry for intruding into you at this beginning of the year. My name is Jeromi Mbeke the son of One of the Political God Fathers To The Opposition Party to the ruling people party of Kenya who just pass away some few weeks ago during the worst crisis's that have ever affected our great country Kenya.", "help me claim my Inheritance from the security company here in Ghana so that further my education."
  13. Abraham Daye, "I am Abraham Daye, 25years and the only child of late Chief Mr. Christopher Daye, a former special adviser on rural development and culture of interior ministry in Liberia, West Africa. My late father was in charge of solid minerals like Cocoa, Gold, and Diamonds etc before he was murdered by the opposition rebels during the last civil war in my country.",
  14. Mrs. Elizabeth Pearl Cole - "I am the above named person undergoing medical treatment in London, England. I am married to Dr.Martins Smith Cole who worked with British Railway Commission in Chelsea England for over three decades before he died on 5th of July in the year 2003. We were married for fifteen years without a child."
  15. Miss. Hilda Williams - "I feel good contacting you today I have read from your add in Internet knowing quiet well that this contact will bring a lasting relationship. With regard to your reputation and who will not disappoint me nor deny me in faith, I am directing this letter of assistance to you. I am Miss Hilda Williams the only daughter of Mr.Don Williams from Republic of Zimbabwe...", "provide a personal / company's bank Account where this amount here (US$20.M) can be Transferred."
  16. Mrs. Anita Jacob, "I'm a 63 years old woman and from Uzbekistan. My husband and My two Kids died in wolrd trade center on sept 11 2001 .My husband was a gold dealer.", "help me collect the deposit and distributes it accordingly.. Feel free to reimburse yourself"
  17. James Odorikpe, "I am writing this message out of a genuine desperation and with a sorrowful heart... To come and meet me here in abidjan Cote D'ivoire... "blah, blah, blah...
  18. Mrs. Monica Molisa, "I got your address from the South African Network Online {SAINO} when I was desperately looking for a trust-worthy person to assist my son who is currently residing in South Africa , and so I decided to contact you.", "my son, Peter Molisa"
  19. Anthony L. Lloyds, "I am sorry to disturb you but I just finished reading your profile at the site
  20. Mrs Jane Mayon, "I was diagnosed for cancer for about Few years ago,immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me everything he worked for.", "Dr Jack Ryan"
  21. Ahmed: Saeed Ahmed a merchant in Dubai - "diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live"
  22. Ali: Mrs.Aminata Ali from Cote D`ivoire (Ivory Coast) and her son, Mustafa!
  23. Boniface: Rose Boniface - the daughter of a very wealthy Gold/Diamond dealer
  24. Cole: Madam Susan Cole - "Here writes Madam Susan Cole, suffering from cancerous ailment. I am married to Watson Cole an Englishman who is dead."
  25. Dalette: PLS HELP ME AND MY MUM, PIUS DALETTE AND FAMILY
  26. Dunbar: DAVID DUNBAR, - " I have made up my mind to contact you for assistance, after considering your outstanding performance in business", "make a transfer of US$12.5Million  to your Country"
  27. Fatimah, "The daughter of Late Alhaji Hassan from Ivory Coast in West Africa",
    Wants the money "transferred into your bank account"
  28. Guelly: Victorine Guelly, wife of Late Laurent Hubert Guelly, former minister of defence and chief of army staff of the Republic of Guinea
  29. Hadi: Abdul Hadi, "I am weeping in my heart while writting you this letter and i know you might find it very amazing, but i want you to understand..."
  30. Hodges: Jessy Ami Hodges, in Dakar Senegal needs YOUR help!
  31. Koromah: Susan Koromah - Her Cocoa Farmer Father Died Mysteriously in France
  32. "Lady" Scams:
    1. Lady Mary Radcliffe, "wife of late Sir David Radcliffe, suffering from cancerous ailment without a child. ", "lmadcliffe1@yahoo.dk", "use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to fund the upkeep of widows, orphans,and needy financially"
    2. Lady Gloria Faducci, "suffering from cancerous ailment", "lady_glofaducci@yahoo.com.hk", "make you the original beneficiary of this fund."
    3. Lady Helen Crawford - "suffering from cancerous ailment. I was married to Sir William Crawford an Englishman who is dead.", "donate this fund to you and want you to use this gift
    4. Lady Stella Morrison - "suffering from cancerous ailment.I am married to Engineer Richard Morrison an Englishman who is dead", "to uplift the down-trodden and the less-privileged individuals"
    5. Lady Rita Mosley, "suffering from cancerous ailment", "I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to fund the upkeep of orphans,and less-privileged individuals"
    6. Lady Maria Foreman - Here writes Lady Maria Foreman, suffering from cancerous ailment. I am married to Engineer Alex Foreman an Englishman who is dead
  33. Lamptey: James Lamptey, $15.5 Million in Ghana
  34. Miller: Jude Miller, "You may be surprised to recieve this letter from me since you do not know me personally", "make arrangements and come to Johannesburg-South Africa,so that you can open a non-resident account which you will aid us in transferring the money into any account which you will nominate overseas"
  35. Tina Ojo - CAN YOU HONESTLY HELP ME?
  36. Olds: David Martin Olds - "I decided to contact you after I went through my father's file. Hence we confide in you.", "secure the funds there in your Country"
  37. Ola and Kata Anyi - permit us to inform you of our desire of asking you to be a guardian or foster parent to us and then help us out
  38. Princess scams:
    1. Osadul Adekus, Orphaned Princess, Wants to Date YOU!
    2. Princess Ana, another Orphaned Princess, Wants to Date YOU, TOO!
    3. PRINCESS KING DONGOSON, Orphaned Princess, Also Wants to Date YOU!
  39. Richards: Mrs Dolly Richards, "I know that this mail will come to you as a surprise", "act as a beneficiary"
  40. Robertson: Samuel Robertson - "I am a British Citizen with a God fearing looking for an honest Person to move along in this matter with all the diligence", "I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin to the deceased since you have a similar name, so that the proceeds of this treasury bill can be paid to you rather than been confiscated by the Bank"
  41. Sinko (or Diop): Alice Sinko / Alice Diop - Diamond and Gold Mines
  42. Smith: Frank Smith Jr, a National of Somalia -  "I seek your permission to present you to the security company in Ghana as my fathers foreign partner
  43. Sisulu: Mrs. Walter Sisulu, Widow of the Late Africa Freedom Fighter
  44. Summers: Fred Summers, "a Canadian, living in Africa... and his father just died, leaving he a fortune, that he needs your help with!", "is properly invested... just pretend to be a lawyer (a crime in the U.S., by the way)"
  45. Talbot: Madam Helen Talbot, "Here writes Madam Helen Talbot, suffering from Cancerous ailment. I am married to Engineer Peter Talbot, an Englishman who is dead"
  46. Jan Taylor: "I am miss jan charles taylor 25yrs,and one of the daughters of the former liberian president charles taylor who was arrested by the united nations..."
  47. Williams: Fillomina Williams - "My dady was killed last year when he attended a ceremony in the village. he was brutaly killed and was shut severally by my uncles on his way back from a conference needs YOUR help!"

And please let us know about any suspicious calls or emails you receive.  We look for patterns so that we can alert the authorities and victims to new scams, before it is too late!

 

 

 

For a comprehensive list of national and international agencies to report scams, see this page.