419 scam: "MRS MARY COLE" <marycole92@ymail.com> 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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447045717090 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
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.
- davidhammer@maktoob.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS MARY COLE" <marycole92@ymail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:34:18 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: DEAR FRIEND

--
My name is Mrs.Mary Cole, I am a dying woman who have decided to donate
what I have to you/ church/ mosque and the less privileged. I am 72 years
old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 9 years ago, immediately
after the death of my husband, who has left me everything he worked for.

I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my
late husband to the you for the good work of God,rather than allow my
relatives to use my husband hard earned funds ungodly. Please pray,that
the good Lord forgive me my sins.I have asked God to forgive me and
believe he has because He is a merciful God. I will be going in for an
operation in less than one hour. I decided to WILL/donate the sum of
usd$12.8 twelve million eight hundred thousand dollars) to you for the
good work of the lord, and also to help the motherless and less privilege
and also for the assistance of the widows.At the moment I cannot take any
telephone calls right now due to the fact that my relative around me and
my health status.

I have adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware I have changed my will you
and he will arrange the transfer of the funds from my account to you.I
wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly,and
please use the funds well and always extend the good work to
others.Contact my lawyerwith this specified contact details:
BARR DAVID HAMMER
233 BETHNAL GREEN ROAD
LONDON E2 6AB
Tel +44 704 5717090
E-MAIL ; davidhammer@maktoob.com and tell him that I have WILLED(usd$12.8
) to you by quoting my personal reference number
WILL/TT453276542/Jrrr/086.And I have also notified him that I am WILLING
that amount to you for a specific and good work. I know I don't know you
but I have been directed to do this.Thanks and God bless. NB: I will
appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is
accomplished.
Regards,
Mary Cole.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam