419 scam: Maria Joseph <josephmaria758@yahoo.pt> FROM: MARIA JOSEPH

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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.

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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. )
- "may come to you as a surprise" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan scam.
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.
- marijohn4u@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Maria Joseph <josephmaria758@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Maria Joseph <marijohn4u@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 09:23:56 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: FROM: MARIA JOSEPH

Â FROM: MARIA JOSEPH
RUE 10, AVENUE I4
COTONOU ( BENIN REPUBLIC )

My chosen Partner,

Compliment of the season, Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you. I know this mail may come to you as a surprise, since we have not known or written before. My Mother died long ago in labour on the process of delivery. So my father took me so special.

Introducing myself, I am Maria Joseph, 22 years of age, the only Daughter of the late Chief and Mrs. Joseph Williams, My father was a gold and cocoa merchant based in Accra, Ghana and Benin Republic.

He was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their business trips. Before the death of my father on the 27th February 2010 in one of the private hospitals here in Benin Republic he secretly called me on his bedside and told me that he has a sum of $6.5M.USD. (Six Million five hundred thousand U.S D) deposited in a security company here in Republic of Benin as a consignment, he also saidÂ that he used my name as his beloved and only daughter for the next of kin in depositing the fund.

He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates, My Father told me that I should look for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose such as expansion of his existing cocoa business and real estate management overseas.Â I have make an arrangement with the Security Company director here on how best to retrieve and deliver the consignmentÂ to overseas, please I am humbly seeking for your assistance in the following ways.

1)-To serve as the guardian of this fund since I am still in the Secondary School.

2)-To help me to invest this money in a good business in your country.

Moreover, I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your effort/ Input after the successful delivery of the consignment to you , while 5% will be set aside to offset any expenses you may incur.

Furthermore, you can indicate your option towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within the shortest possible time if you signify interest to assist me.

You have to contact me through my private email address below for more details
marijohn4u@yahoo.fr

Thanks and God bless.

Yours sincerely
MARIA JOSEPH

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam