419 scam: Maria Lea <www.maria_lea@yahoo.com.ph> Hello dear Friend.

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:

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)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million us 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)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Maria Lea <www.maria_lea@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: www.maria_lea@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 3 Jun 2010 12:27:17 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello dear Friend.

Hello dear Friend.

Please let me use this great opportunity to introduce myself to you which I new you will find it interested to co-operate with me.I am Mrs. Maria Lea Carmen. Actress, singer from Philippines, I am suffering from a long time cancer of the trout now, which also affected my brain.

>From all indication my condition is really deteriorating, and my doctors have courageously advised me that I may not live beyond the next two months; this is because the cancer stage has reached a critical stage.

I was married to late Robert Charles Chien American Citizen for twenty years without a child. but quite unfortunately he died in a fatal motor accident.
Since his death I decided not to re-marry, I sold all my inherited belongings and deposited all the sum of $4.7 million US dollars with a Security Company in one on the Africa Country.

Presently, this money is still in their custody, and the management just wrote me as the Legitimate beneficiary to come forward to receive the money after keeping it for so long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf since I can not come over as a result of my illness, or they get it confiscated.
Presently, I'am with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment.
I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.
It is my last wish to see that this money is invested in any organization of your choice and distributed each year among the charity organization, the poor and the motherless babys home.

I want your good humanitarian, to also use this money to fund School, orphanages and widows around. I must let you know that this was a very hard decision, but I had to take a bold step towards this issue because I have no further option, I hope you will help see my last wishes come true.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Security Company, I will also send a letter of authority to the security company in your name, which will prove that you are the new beneficiary of my funds.Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.

Hope to hear from you soonest.
Awaiting your reply
I wish you good luck.
Mrs Maria Lea,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam