419 scam: "Mary Matins" <marry_matins@yahoo.co.uk> Urgent

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "hundred thousand u.s 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "stay blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- matins_mary@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mary Matins" <marry_matins@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: <matins_mary@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 09:10:04 -0400
Subject: Urgent

Dear Sir/Madam,

Good day, my name is Miss Mary Matins 25 years old from the Republic of
Sierra-Leone in West Africa, presently living as a refugee in
Dakar-Senegal under the(UNHCR).
I am counting on your business professional experience and expertise to
help me claim and profitably invest my capital worth US$7,500,000.00 which
I inherited from my late father-Dr.Fedinand Matins whom I am his only
child.
My late father was the managing director of Rainbow Gold & Diamond Mine
company in (KENEMA)Sierra-Leone.
But he was killed along side with my mother during the longing civil war
and all his properties were totally destroyed. However, after their deaths
I managed to escape with very important files of my father. He has the sum
of (US$7.5M)seven million five hundred thousand U.S Dollars only. This
amount was deposited by my late father in one of the leading banks in
Senegal. The deposit documents indicate me as the next of kin.
Presently, I am saddled with the problem of securing a trustworthy foreign
personality to help me claim the money from the bank. I will map out 20%
for you to:-
(1)Stand on my behalf in Senegal as the beneficiary for the claim of the
inheritance from the bank since the management of the bank advised that I
should solicit for an individual or corporate organization to claim the
deposit for me as they cannot release it directly to me due to my refugee
status in Senegal.
(2)Transfer the money over to your own country and into your possession
pending my arrival to meet with you.
(3)Invest and manage the money for me in a good business pending my
maturity.
(4) Help me secure my travelling documents to meet you as soon as my money
is released to you.
Furthermore, you can contact the Bank for confirmation and I will issue a
letter of authorisation on your name, that will enable the bank correspond
with you on my behalf. I am giving you this offers as mentioned with every
confidence on your acceptance to assist me or adopt me as your Child if
possible and manage the money for me.
Conclusively, I wish you send me a reply immediately you receive this
proposal. Until then, I remain with the best.
Stay Blessed.
Mary Matins.
Please you can also send me mail at this alternative email address:
matins_mary@yahoo.co.uk </ym/Compose?To=matins_mary@yahoo.co.uk>.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam