419 scam: Mrs Maria Johnson <maria@johnson.com> PLEASE READ, GOD BLESS

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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 "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Maria Johnson <maria@johnson.com>
Reply-To: walterashdownlaw@live.com
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:38:24 -0400
Subject: PLEASE READ, GOD BLESS

Hello,

My name is Mrs .Maria Johnson.I am a dying woman who had decided to donate
what I have to you. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about 2
years ago,immediately after the death of my husband, who had left me everything
he worked for.I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited
from my late husband to the you for the good work of God,rather than allow my
relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds ungodly.I have asked God to
forgive me all my sins and i believe he has because He is a merciful God.

I will be going in for an operation,and i pray that i survive the operation.
I have decided to WILL/donate the sum of $10,500,000(Ten million five hundred
thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord,and to help the
otherless,less privileged and also for the assistance of the widows.At the
moment I cannot take any telephone calls, due to the fact that my relatives
are around me and i have been restricted by my doctor from taking telephone
callsbecause i deserve all the rest i can get.Presently,I have informed my
lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund to you.I wish you all the best
and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and please use the funds well and
always extend the good work to others.

Kindly Contact my lawyer through this email address(walterashdownlaw@live.com)
if you are interested in carrying out this task,so that he can arrange the
release of the funds ($10,500,000.00) to you. My lawyer's name is Walter
Ashdown.I know I have never met you but my mind
tells me to do this,and i hope you act sincerely.

NB: I will appreciate your ultmost confidentiality in this matter until the
task is complished,as I don't want anything that will Jeopardize my last
wish, due to the fact that i do not want relatives or family members standing
in the way of my last wish.

Thank you and God bless you.

Maria Johnson

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