419 scam: "Mrs. Mary James"<info@claims.com> Urgent and Confidential..

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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:
- "million 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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mary James" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marybanker78@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 23 May 2012 14:24:56 +0100
Subject: Urgent and Confidential..

Good Day,My Name is Mary James. I know this will come to you as surprise but please accept it with cool heart, I work with Manny Bank PLC here in Nigeria, and recently I discovered $11million dollars in the Bank dormant account belonging to one late Mark Davidson from USA this man was confirmed dead in a plane crash some 8years ago and till now no trace or info about his next of kin or relation, I am looking for a trusted person who I can plan a deal with, I will present you to my bank as the brother or relation to late Mark Davidson for the claim of this funds, so that we can share it when I come over to meet with you facially,there is no risk involved and I am ready to compensate you fine, pls get back to me for more details. Yours faithfully Mary James

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam