419 scam: "MR COLE MARK"<colemark2@w.cn> Dear Beloved

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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:
- "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)
- "30% for you " (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR COLE MARK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <colemark@w.cn>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2004 01:21:21 -0800
Subject: Dear Beloved

Dear Beloved.

Greetings in the name of God,

May the blessings of God be upon you and grant you the wisdom to understand

this situation and how much I need your help. I am suffering from a longtime

cancer of the breast which also affected my brain, from all indication my

conditions is really deteriorating, according to my doctors the cancer stage has

gotten to a very bad stage.I am MR.COLE MARK,a merchant in united Kingdom

I know this message will sounds very strange to you, but I have no choice than

to choose a stranger like you I have never seen before.what matters will be the

trust.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer . It has defiled all forms of

medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live,

according to medical experts.Based on this,I want to will my money($US

10,300,000.00 million) to a faithful and God fearing person who would utilize it

I want you to help me dispatch this deposit I have with a finance/Security

Company abroad to the motherless,lessprivileged and also for the assistance of

the widows in the World I have set aside 30% for you and for your time if you

want to help me to collect this Funds and also invest this money.I will

appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is

accomplished,as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish.

Remain blessed in the name of the Lord.

MR.COLE MARK

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam