419 scam: "Mrs Mary Marshal"<marymarshals1@yahoo.co.uk> WILL

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. )
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Mary Marshal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mmary40@live.cim>
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 04:25:04 -0700
Subject: WILL

Dear,

I greet you in the name of God. I dont want you to feel disturbed over this letter, computer is a very deceiving instrument that limits the physical appearance of an individual, but even at that we can see through with our minds and hearts.

I lost my husband, Harry Marshal on the 5th of February, 2005, he was murderd, you can find details of the killings on these websites:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2821299.stm
http://english.people.com.cn/200304/09/eng20030409_114815.shtml
http://www.ngex.com/personalities/voices/starbaluko030603.htm
http://www.dawodu.com/aluko34.htm

Since the death of my husband, I have been suffering from Cancer of the breast which has caused my family great pains; I have never had time to take care of my children. I am writing this letter to you from the hospital, I need your assistance and sincerity as I want to invest the family's assets in your country, the total fund is $15M which is with a security company on London.

You are not required to travel to London neither do I ask you to pay anything, I will handle everything through the help of my lawyer and get the funds to you in your country. I need the following from you:

Your Full names:
Your Full Address:
Your Tel no:
Yur Date of birth,
Your Next of Kin

These will enable me get all necessary documents to you and process the release of the funds. I will compensate you financially for your assistance, please treat this with passion and compassion.

I wait for your response.

Regards,
Mrs Mary Marshal

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam