419 scam: "Mrs.Farzana Massouma."<.farzanamassouma@vip.se.com> My beloved friend,

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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:
- "million 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Farzana Massouma." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.farzanamassouma@vip.se.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2012 05:10:21 -0400
Subject: My beloved friend,

My beloved friend,

Greetings in the name of God please let this not sound strange to you; permit me to
inform you of my desire.

I am Mrs.Farzana Massouma,a 49 years old woman suffering from cancerous ailment. I was
married to my late husband Mr.Fadi Massouma who was a gold merchant in Kuwait for
twenty-one years and we are with our adopted child, my husband died in a fatal mining
accident in November 17th 2008 and since his death I decided not to re-marry.

When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2010,I sold all my inherited belongings and
deposited the sum of 12.2 Million Dollars with a finance and security company(Twelve
Million, two Hundred Thousand Dollars).I want an investor that will assist me to invest
this fund on my son's name.

Presently, this money is still with the Security company (Name withheld). And recently
my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous problem which
has cost me my ability to talk.

Though what bothers me most is the Paralysis of both legs that I have in addition to the
cancer. With this hard reality that has befallen on me, I have decided to donate this
fund to you and want you to use this fund to help charity organizations, orphanages,
churches, mosques, widows, motherless baby’s home, Schools, supporting destitute aged
men and women or whatever you may have in mind that will be to the benefit of the less
fortunate.

I will give you more details upon receipt of your response but if you are not interested
please pardon me.

Remain blessed,

Best regards,
Mrs.Farzana Massouma.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam