419 scam: "Faith Mathew"<faithmathew505@gmail.com> From Miss Faith Mathew

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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.

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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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Faith Mathew" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mathewfaith1111@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:56:33 +0100
Subject: From Miss Faith Mathew

Dear Friend.

I am sure this message would be coming to you as a surprise since we have never met before and you would also be asking why I have decided to chose you amongst the numerous internet users.

Actually I have been in search for a trustworthy partner so when I saw your email contact address, i was pushed to contact you and see how best we can help each other. I am Mrs. Faith Mathew head,Treasury department with a well known bank here in Ghana. I am a single mother of three children since the passing away of my beloved husband. I believe it is the wish of God for me to come across your email contact address at this time.

I am having an important business Proposal i wish to share with you and I believe it will interest you and you are going to benefit from it if only you will assist me. Please be patient while i explain this to you. One Late Mr. Richard Bowers a citizen of America had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2005 for 36 calendar months, valued at US$18,400,000.00 (Eighteen Million, Four Hundred Thousand US Dollars) and the due date for this deposit contract was this 16th of January. Sadly Mr. Richard was among the death victims in a deadly plan crash in May 26, 2006 that killed over 900 people on the airplane. He was on a business trip to Holland and that was how he met his end. My bank management is yet to know about his death and I knew about it because i was his account officer and we later became close friends. Richard did not mention any Next of Kin/Heir when the account was opened as he was not married and has no children.

Last week my Bank Management requested that i should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract. I knew this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a possible means to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to know that Richard is dead and do not have any Heir to inherit his funds, they will take the funds for their personal use, and I don't want such thing to happen. I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as Next of Kin/Heir to the account as the rightful beneficiary and my bank head quarters will release the funds to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law.

It is better that we claim the funds, than allowing the Bank Directors to take it, because they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds equal, 50/50% to both parties, my share will assist me to start my own private Business which has been my dream and to care for my children as a single mother. Please let me know your mind on this and please do treat this information as TOP SECRET.

We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent response. We can as well discuss this on phone, please let me know when you will be available to speak with me on phone.

Have a nice day and God bless.

Anticipating your communication
Mrs. Faith Mathew.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam