419 scam: "Ruth Madoff"<maruth@wallet.com> PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

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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:

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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ruth Madoff" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rmaddoff70@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 23:10:48 -0400
Subject: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Mrs. Ruth Madoff
West, Liverpool,
London.

My Great Compliments,

I'm Mrs. Ruth Madoff, 67, wife to Mr. Bernard L. Madoff, of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, who pleaded guilty to operating a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme, worth up $826 million, according to a document filed with a federal court on Friday 13th March 2009.

My husband, after pleading guilty to all 11 criminal counts in one of Wall Street's biggest swindles was sent to jail Thursday 12th March 2009.

Now the Federal investigators in the USA are working around the clock to freeze all my assets, fearing that I'm trying to flee the country which I have done shortly after my husband was sentenced, I have $23 million in my name beyond their reach.

The Securities and Exchange Commissions are working with federal prosecutors in Manhattan to prepare a filing asking a judge to formally freeze all of my assets as soon as possible.

My husband deposited the sum of (USD$9Million) in a Finance Firm in Europe some years ago in my name, I need you to collect this funds and distribute it to both of us since the Federal investigators are working around the clock to freeze all my assets. Meanwhile all documents related to transfer of this fund to your account is with the bank

Presently, Im in a hide out here in UK as the Federal investigators as well the Securities and Exchange Commissions are looking for me to freeze my entire asset as well prosecute me like my husband.

Please reply as soon as possible as there's not much time. Upon your interest, i'll like you to proceed with the bank. Please do send me your contact details as I will like to prepare legal documents with my lawyer before we commence on this transaction.

Please keep this transaction confidential for now. You can read my story on this website:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03152009/news/regionalnews/ruth_in_crosshair_159631.htm

God bless you.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Ruth Madoff

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam