419 scam: "Mrs. Mary Forsyth" <vallo4reel@yahoo.com> DEARLY BELOVED,

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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.
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)
- "mrs.maryforsyth@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mary Forsyth" <vallo4reel@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrs.maryforsyth@live.com
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:53:23 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DEARLY BELOVED,

GREETINGS

Dearly Beloved,

My name is Mrs. Mary Forsyth. I am a dying woman who has decided to donate what I have
to charity through you. I am 66 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about 2 years ago,
immediately after the death of my husband who had left me everything he worked for.

When my late husband was alive, he deposited the sum of GBP 8 Million in a bank in
Nigeria, which is now wasting and languishing there. I am dying and my Doctor told me that
I would not last long due to my complicated health issues, I have cancer.

I have been touched by the lord to donate this funds to better the lives of the less privileged
through you for the good work of humanity, rather than allow my husband relatives to misuse
my husband's hard earned funds inappropriately.

You may be wondering why I chose you But someone has to be chosen. I decided to reach you
directly to solicit for your assistance, I want you to utilize this money in accordance with my
will.

I will be going in for an operation, and I pray that I survive the operation I have decided to
WILL/Donate the sum of (GBP 8 Million) to charity through you for the good work of the lord, and
to help the motherless, less privileged and also for the assistance of the widows.

Presently, I have informed my lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund to charity through you.
I will instruct him to arrange for the release of the money to you as soon as i get your responds.
I know i have never met you but my spirit tells me to do this and I hope you act sincerely.

NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished,
as I don't want anything that will Jeopardize my last wish, due to the fact that I do not want
relatives or family members standing in the way of my last wish.

Kindly reach me through my private email [mrs.maryforsyth@live.com]

Thanks,
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Mary Forsyth.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam