419 scam: "Mrs. Mariam Khan"<marykhan@help.com> RE: HELLO

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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:
- "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)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447937017700
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.
- chinsolicitors@aol.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mariam Khan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <marykhan15@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 21:38:33 +0800
Subject: RE: HELLO

My Dear,

My name is Mrs. Mariam Khan, I am a dying woman who has decided to donate what I have to you. My husband was a contractor in Asia with Texaco oversea for over 10yrs. He died in 2006.

I am 74 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me everything he worked for and because the doctors told me I will not live longer than some weeks because of my health, I decided to Will or donate the sum of USD$5,400,000 (Five million four hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of humanity, and also to help the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows.

I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others. Please kindly contact my Attorney for further info:

Contact my Attorney,

Attorney's Name: Mr. Gordon Chin
Telephone: +447937017700
Email: chinsolicitors@aol.co.uk

Tell him that I have WILLED (USD$5,400,000.00) to you and I have also notified him, I know I don't know you but I have been directed to do this.

Mrs. Mariam Khan

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam