419 scam: "Mrs. Maria" <mariam5_abacha@yahoo.com> I send my 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:

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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
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.
- mrs_maria_abacus@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Maria" <mariam5_abacha@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrs_maria_abacus@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 08:09:32 -0700
Subject: I send my greetings to you

Dear Friend,

My wish to charitable organization

I send my greetings to you in the name of God

I am very sorry for this interruption, I have no other way to reach you than
this ways please accept my apology.

My name is Mrs. Maria Abacus, I am a dying woman who suffering from a
long time cancer of the breast, my personal doctor have courageously
advised me that I may not live beyond the next two months, this is
because the cancer has gotten to a very bad stage and there is nothing
else they can do medically to save me.

I have been touched by God to donate from what I inherited from my
late husband the sum of (10.5 million dollars) to you for the good work
of God and to assist the poor and needy in your community.

It is my last wish to see that this money is distributed among the
charity organization, the less privilege, the needy, the widows, the
destitute, the poor, the orphans and the motherless babies home in
your community, which has always been the desire of my late husband
to accomplish with this fund.

I want you also use this money to fund little kids from poor families
without parents in your community.

Please, I know that this letter may be a very big surprise to you
because, It is true that I don't know you, but I have nothing in mind
other than to help the poor and needy according to the directions and
wishes of God..

As soon as I receive your reply, I shall give you the contact of the
Bank. I will also issue you a Letter of Authority that will prove you
as the new beneficiary of my fund.

Please kindly send to me the following information to enable me use it
to write a Letter of Authorization on your behalf to the bank so that
they will release the money to you as my new next of kin.

1) Your Full Name
2) Contact Telephone Number
3) Country /Contact Andres
4) Occupation
5) Your Age/Marital Status

May God bless you for your precious time to read my email as I await
your urgent response.

Please kindly reply on private email contacts

mrs_maria_abacus@yahoo.co.uk

Mrs. Maria Abacus.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam