who do I contact to find out if someone sending me email is a scammer?

auntkarendjjb: who do I contact to find out if someone sending me email is a scammer?
A woman claiming to be in a hospital dieing of breast cancer, says she wants to give me 12million dollars out of her secured swiss account to give to poor . All I have to do is call the phone number to where the money is secured and give HIM my name and number and tell him that this person told me to call and the money will be put in my account..
I don’t know this person and not sure how she got my email address. How do I find out if she is a scammer or perhaps she is who she says she is?

Answers and Views:

Answer by geozop
There is no chance that someone you don’t know contacting you by email has good intentions if they need you do to something for them.

Answer by fathead
Very funny. How could anyone NOT recognize this as a scam?

Start with some thinking when you get mail like this…

When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Why would anyone want to give you money?
Why would they need help getting it out of their own account? In particular a swiss bank?

This sounds like a really lame twist of the Nigerian letters.

IOTTMCO

Answer by Eric R
Unless you know this person, the premise alone makes this 100% chance of being a scam.

If someone wants to give their money to the poor, there are thousands of easier and better ways than picking one random person (you) do do this for them.

If someone is financially savvy enough to have a secure swiss account, wouldn’t they:
1) Know how to distrubute their money without needing you?
2) Have better security (in the “secure” account) such that someone just calling such-and-such number couldn’t get the whole sum?

Simply calling and giving out your bank account information contains a risk that you should avoid. I would expect that were you to call, there might be some “fees involved” with the money transfer, for which you are free to “reimburse yourself” after the windfall of money would come to you.

In my opinion, don’t even waste your time verifying what is on its face a scam.

Best of luck to you.

Answer by SexyTrojan
Karen,

That is a scam. Most people on here receive various types of messages like that. Eventually the person will ask for your bank account number, or for a check to cover money transfer fees.

Hospitals will not give out information on a patient, by law. You can ask for the name of the hospital she is in, and give her a call.

But think about it, if you were on your death bed, would you be emailing strangers or visiting with your loved ones.

Answer by lainey lain
Report it!

Answer by oddball
When you call the number you will be told to send a certain amount of money to secure the money. This will be for banking fees, taxes etc.

IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, YOU CAN BET YOU SWEET A** IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

Answer by sheeple_rancher
That email is an absolute CLASSIC scam of the 419 variety.
The usual form is:

From: fatima malik (or some other name at a free mail service)

Dear (something)
.. greetings in the name of Allah (sometimes)

.. scammer has dread disease or is in trouble or an orphan or whatever.

.. a large amoutn of money is available, but he/she/it needs your help to get it out of the country.

.. you will get some of it.

.. give some part of your identity up