419 scam: "Mrs. Mary Painter"<sheridan@spyderinternet.com> 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:

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:
- "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. )
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- mrs.marypainter@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mary Painter" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.marypainter@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 May 2012 12:06:52 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend.

Good day,

You might be skeptical about this message based on the fact that we have not met before but i believe the lord will give you the strength and understanding to read this message and see reasons with me. My name Mrs. Mary Painter from Italy but I reside in Dorset, England. I am a 65 year old childless widow.

Recently my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next 3 months due to my cancer ailment.. Before the death of my Late Husband who was a British citizen, we deposited some money with a Security company here in England and our decision was to donate this fund for the charity purpose, since we do not have a child that will inherit this money. I know that you get a lot of this type of mail everyday. Me too. That was how i got this idea of using this medium to contact you my dear. I want you to be plain and truthful to me for i am to you. The lord sees all things and knows why they occur. I believe in the lord and serve him with all my heart and i will not use his name in vain. I have no better option but to use this medium to contact you. Everything i tell/reveal to you is the truth and nothing but the truth.

I want you help me invest this fund on CHARITY in your area. I want it used for the betterment of humanity. As soon as I receive your reply I shall inform my lawyer/security companies to assist you take over the funds from the security firm, which you shall use for the establishment of the charity ventures to the Glory of God almighty. Please my dear. Feel free to tell me anything and open up to me. If you cannot help me, kindly tell me. I know that it is a strange way

of asking you for a favor. I am helpless and cannot do this on my own because of my ailment. I need a God fearing person to help me carry out this task for me. I am only being candid with you for i have no time to play games. Take me as a sister and help me if you can. If you know that you have a negative mind about this, do not reply. For anything worth doing is worth doing well. Assure me that you will act as I stated herein.

NAME: __________SURNAME:__________________SEX: _____ AGE: ______MARITAL: _______________COUNTRY: CONTACT ADDRESS: ________________________PHONE NO#___________OCCUPATION:_______________

Please reply me via email: mrs.marypainter@gmail.com

God bless you.
Mrs. Mary Painter.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam