419 scam: "From Mrs. Mary Philips." <ttttodi21@megamail.pt> From Mrs. Mary Philips.

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united states 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
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.
- mrsmmmmm0@centrum.sk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "From Mrs. Mary Philips." <ttttodi21@megamail.pt>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:05:39 -0000 (WET)
Subject: From Mrs. Mary Philips.

From Mrs. Mary Philips.

May the peace of merciful God be with you,please I have a problem and i
decided it is good a thing to write you.be bless in the name of God and sorry
to intrude into your privacy.As i hope that this mail meet you in good sense
of mind.

Please read this mail gently and try to absorb the content therein as this is
not one of any such mail you read but i have prayed and fasted irrespective to
my present predicament believing God that i shall meet the right person that
will be sincere,faithful and God fearing.

My name is Mrs Mary Philips,I am from FREETOWN the capital city of SIERRA
LEONE.I am married to late Mr.Josep Philips who was a DIAMOND BUSINESS
MERCHANT and died as a result of the war in my country.We were married for
twenty years with just a child called Junior.My Husband died as a result of a
stray bullet shot during the war.Since his death I decided not to remarry.

When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of Ten Million united
states dollars(10,000,000.00)USD in a security company here in the federal
republic of COTE D'IVOIRE. Recently,I was confirmed to be suffering from
Cancer and the Doctors informed me that i will not last for the next many
months.

Hence I decided to look for a foreign partner that will help me secure this
fund in his or her custody and invest it into a risk-free venture for profit
making because my son Junior is too young and cannot handle such money so i
desire a sincere God fearing person that will assist me to process and secure
this money then send for my son and take good care of him as your child so
that he can further his education and after his education you will give him
rights to the investments and establishment as i may not live to watch over
him.

Please, contact me as soon as you receive this message if you will be able to
handle this project by assuring me of your willingness and capabilities as
well as your sincerity and not capitalizing on my present health Condition to
betray me;respond back to me as soon as possible. Pls reply me through my
private emil : (mrsmmmmm0@centrum.sk)

Thanks and I await to hear from you.
To God be the Glory
Mrs.Mary Philips

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam