419 scam: "Mrs Mary Marshal"<mary@mail.com> Family Update / Mary Marshal

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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.
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- drj_consultant@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Mary Marshal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mmary31@live.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 2010 14:49:37 +0100
Subject: Family Update / Mary Marshal

My good friend,

Thanks for you response and willingness to help me and my two kids. At the moment, I am sending to you the WILL of my late husband and copy of the deposit certificate of the deposit.

This is the procedure as I have already informed our family lawyer, Bar John Okafor that you are my trusted and honest friend who I want to take over the funds pending my arrival in your country with my two kids; I want you to send to me the following information which will be forwarded to the security company confirming you the new beneficiary of the deposit:

1. Your full names
2. Your full address
3. Your phone and fax numbers
4. Your Occupation
5. Your next of kin

This will enable the lawyer to write officially to the security company that you are now the new beneficiary of the fund. Immediately that is done, the deposit will be released, you can meet with the lawyer in London or we can find a better avenue of getting the funds to you.

Since my cancer situation, I have taken lots of medication, since its a terminal ailment, I have given my life and hope to our Lord Jesus Christ to heal me so that I can stand for my two children and give them the best in life. I trust and have confidence in you that you will not betray me.

You are also informed to forward the details above to the lawyer as well, drj_consultant@yahoo.com as I have already informed him about you. After we get this transaction concluded, I will then come over to meet with you; do you have specific areas where we can invest the money? We will discuss your commission on our next email; feel free to let me know what your commission should be.

I count on you. Thanks and God bless my friend.

Yours truly,
Mrs Mary.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam