419 scam: Maria Santos <tosiviano@yahoo.com> Hello Dear friend,

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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- "hundred thousand 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 widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Maria Santos <tosiviano@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: tosiviano51@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:41:38 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello Dear friend,

Hello Dear friend,

How are you doing? I decided to contact you after looking over your profile.

Apologize for using this medium to seek your assistant, The fact is that we have not met each other before, and believed internet has made us to become together as one today.

I am Mrs. Maria Santos, A widow woman from Philippine, i have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have few weeks to live, according to medical experts, just recently my doctor inform me i have a few weeks to live due to the esophageal cancer.

Before the death of my husband,I inherited the total sum of $2.5 Million US DOLLARS. (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Us Dollars) from him. and this money was deposited with finance house. But my mind is not at rest, just as I am writing this letter to you through the help of my Laptop computer beside my sick bed.

I have decided to impose this heritage with the less Privileges that is why i have contacted you for assistant. Is my willing to offer you 20% of the total money,and the remaining 80% for the Charity Organisation. Since the company did not have any idea about the money inside the Portfolio, because my late husband deposited the consignment with the company in form of family treasures.

My dear, if you have make up your mind to assist me with this project as A NEXT OF KIN, So that the company will know you and deliver this Portfolio to your address in your country, I want you to send to me your full name, phone and fax numbers, house address and little story about you, so that i can know you more.

Bye for now, and please always remember me in your Prayer when you pray.
Thanks

Best Regards
Mrs. Maria Santos

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam