419 scam: "Ms Marina Litvinenko"<mslitvinenko@gmail.com> Humanitarian Work Charity

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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:
- ",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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms Marina Litvinenko" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marlit110@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 19:37:42 -0000
Subject: Humanitarian Work Charity

My Dear,

It is my solem pleasure to share this message with you. Do take this
mission as a contribution to fate. This is not an easy task and that is
the main reason why I contacted you. Please do not be offended. I will
understand completely if you cannot be of assistance or interested.

I am Mrs.Marina Litvinenko, wife of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian
security officer who died in a London hospital after apparently being
poisoned with the highly-toxic metal Polonium 210 by Mr Lugovoi, a Russian
Government Paid agent.

You can read articles about my Husband's ordeal via the websites below:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/05/60minutes/main2333207.shtml

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/05/60minutes/main2333207_page2.shtml#ccmm

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/05/60minutes/main2333207_page3.shtml

Please I want you to assist in donating and distributing these funds to
charity in your region on behalf of my Late Husband and my Humbleself, I
shall be presenting the said funds ($9,500,000.00 USD) to you which was
given to my Late husband before his death by Mr Berezovsky, A Russian
Billionaire, Who he saved his life by exposing the plot against him. It is
the wish of my husband before his death to help and fight for Humanity on
the process he was murdered. This is why I want to distribute this out for
Humanitarian Work.

The Funds are deposited in a suspense account with a Financial firm in
London and I will personally put you in charge of this great exercise and
you are to use your discresion to distribute this funds to those who
really needs help ( Widows, Less Privilege, Motherless Babies, Destitues,
and building a Shelter for the homeless, in general , Litvinenko Justice
Foundation) . As i come to realise that all things are vanity when you are
not helping others.

If verily you are interested and reliable, i will furnish you more details
with 100% risk free guarantee.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Marina Litvinenko

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam