419 scam: "Marie Roberts"<giverswithgod@yahoo.com> Response Needed

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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 beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
This email message is a "dying merchant" 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.
- williesjames@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Marie Roberts" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williesjames@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:22:44 -0000
Subject: Response Needed

Dear Beloved,

You may be surprised to receive this mail, as you read this, don't feel so sorry for me because I know everyone will die someday.My name is Mrs. Marie Roberts, an American Citizen and also a business woman. I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer which was discovered very late due to my laxity in caring for my health. It has defiled all forms of medication right now and I have only about few months' to live according to medical experts. I have never particularly lived my life so well as I never really cared for anyone not even me but my business. Though I am very rich, but I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and I only focus on my business as that was the only thing I cared for in my life. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to live.

I once asked my family members to close one of my accounts and distribute the funds which I have there to CHARITY ORGANIZATION in Rwanda and Pakistan; they refused and kept the money to themselves.Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. The last of the funds which no one knows of, is the cash deposit in one of the banks. I have a deposit of $4.5 Million US Dollars with Koelner Bank Plc www.koelnerbank.de and let the bank account officer Mr. Rodney Mccoy know that you are from me, as i have done everything that it takes to process this but you will assure me that you will take 30% of the money and give 70% to the orphanages home in your country for my heart to rest.You are to contact Mr.Rodney on his Private this email: ( williesjames@gmail.com ) and update me immediately since i dont have much time to live my life due to the ovarian cancer disease, hopeing you will understand my point and God bless you.

Yours fairly friend,
Mrs Marie Roberts

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam