419 scam: "Mrs. Meryl Aderley." <meryladderley@netcourrier.com> Dear Beloved 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:
- "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. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Meryl Aderley." <meryladderley@netcourrier.com>
Reply-To: meryladderley@live.com
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:20:16 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Dear Beloved Friend,

Dear Beloved Friend,

First of all, I seek your indulgence to solicit for your assistance concerning
the content of my e-mail, although I am not comfortable discussing it through
this manner due to lots of unsolicited mails on the internet presently, but I
have no other medium to do so right now since the situation of my health is
deteriorating.

INTRODUCTION: I am Mrs. Meryl Adderley; I am married to late Dr. Ayberk
Adderley, of blessed memory, a citizen of Republic of Turkey.
He was a reputable business magnet-(Oil Explorer) in Côte d'Ivoire for many years before
He died of Heart Attack in the year 2009, we were married for Thirty-Five years
with a child and our only son died in a ghastly motor accident last year 2010.

My late husband deposited the sum of ($2.900.000) Two Million, Nine Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars in a Trunk Box with a Security Company here in Côte d'Ivoire.

Presently I am battling with both lung cancer and stroke and according to my
doctor, my medical report quotes a very short life sperm due to my health
condition that I only have few months to live, I do not know but only God can
say. That is just my faith as a deteriorating cancer patient. But I pray to God
to heal me so that I will be alive and see this work done as my late husband
instructed me.

Because of my present health condition I have decided to donate the above
mentioned funds to an individual Muslim, Christian or any faith, He or She will
utilize these funds the way I am going to instruct herein.

I once asked my relatives and my husband relatives to close one of my accounts
and use the Money for the less privileged ones, they do closed the account and
used the money for their own personal interest. I don't want these funds to be
used in such manner. I know we have not met before but I want you to consider
this matter as DIVINE MISSION!!!

I want you and your family to always pray for me because the lord is my
shepherd, my happiness is that I leaved a worthy life and whoever that wants to
serve the Lord must serve Him in spirit and truth.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you more details regarding this
great mission.

Remain blessed.

Yours,

Mrs. Meryl Adderley.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam