419 scam: missionary work missionary work <maryam042@att.net> From: Mrs. Maryam Mahmood (Greetings to you)

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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: missionary work missionary work <maryam042@att.net>
Reply-To: mrs.maryam042@yahoo.ie
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 02:38:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From: Mrs. Maryam Mahmood (Greetings to you)

From: Mrs. Maryam Mahmood (Greetings to you)
Rue du commerce Lot 529B
District new capital in Yamoussoukro Cote D'Ivoire
Dearest one,
Permit me to introduce myself. I am Mrs. Maryam Mahmood, wife to late Dr. Ali Mahood who was one of the personal Aids to the president of Republic of Cote d'Ivoire. My husband died during the political crises in Bouake, Northern region of Cote d'Ivoire. Before my husband died, he deposited 17 million euros (Seventeen million euros) with one of the bank here in Abidjan, capital city to the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire. As it stands now, I and my only son have decided to relocate to a foreign country to spend the rest of our lives for security reasons, since the political crises it going out of hand which has leaded to the death of my beloved husband. We have the plans to invest these inherited funds from my late husband into below fields.
1. Estate management,
2. 5 star hotel and
3. And will use part of the money to help the less privilege homes, prisoners and casulties.
In the name of God, we want you to help us transfer this money to your country through your personal account and 15% will be for your humanly assistance to us in this transaction and you will still have a lot to benefit from us because after transfer of this money to your account, everything concerning investment of this money in your country will be under your control because my son will face his studies. Let us hear urgently back from you so that we confirm your acceptance to our request in this transaction and I need below information to introduce you to the bank as our foreign partner for them to recognize you in other to open a direct communication with you for the transfer of this money to your account.
1. Your full names,
2. Your home and office address,
3. Your occupation, home and mobile telephone numbers,
4. Your identification copy and
5. Your bank account information.
I wait for your reply with all your information for us to submit to the bank.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Maryam Mahmood

Anti-fraud resources:

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