419 scam: Maria Stevens <mariastevz16@msn.com> 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.

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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 message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27865123909 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- mariastevz@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Maria Stevens <mariastevz16@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mariastevz@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:05:07 +0000
Subject: URGENT

From:Mrs. Maria Stevens
TEL:+ 27-71-996 2558
Fax:+ 27 86-512-3909
Email:mariastevz@hotmail.com

I am Mrs. Maria Stevens, the wife of Late SIR DAVID STEVENS, who was the "Chairman" of the farmer co-operation in Zimbabwe . I found your contact while I was doing a private research in the Internet for a reliable and capable foreign partner that will assist my family and I to transfer of US$20 million to any personal or private account and for investment purpose. My Husband was among the murdered in cold blood by the President Robert Mugbe , during the land dispute that just happened in Zimbabwe. The fund for this proposal is a deposited
in private security company in South Africa.
I am prepared to split at 60%---40% for you, provided that mine (60%) will be intact at the end.

Please get back to me via email as a matter of urgency E- MAIL: mariastevz@hotmail.com

I am looking forward to your reply.

Mrs. Maria Stevens

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam