419 scam: "Maria E. Brewer" <tlcs1416@gmail.com> Desk of Deputy Chief of Mission Maria E. Brewer

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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Maria E. Brewer" <tlcs1416@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mariaebrewer18@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 10:09:18 +0100
Subject: Desk of Deputy Chief of Mission Maria E. Brewer

Desk of Deputy Chief of Mission Maria E. Brewer
Today, Tuesday Being 11.08.2015
Abuja Nigeria.

Attention: Fundâ€™s Beneficiary,

This is to inform you that your fund of {$7.5M USD} Seven Million Five
Hundred Thousand United States of America Dollars. was brought to my
desk by the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER NIGERIA DIRECTOR stated that
I should signed the documents that back up the diversion of your fund
to the Government Treasury Account reason because you were unable to
pay the cost of the transfer, As result of the information, I told
them to wait until i hear from you today and know the reason why you
refused to comply with them by sending to them the required fee and
start receiving your daily payment as it was signed and programmed.

Note: that the reason why Iâ€™m applying you with this email message is
to inform you that you still have the chance to claim your fund if you
could send the required fee $125.00 today or first thing tomorrow
morning because i have already arranged the special courier company
which will deliver your fund to you within 2days with your tracking
numbers to see when it will be coming to you, be informed that if you
fail to comply again. They will have power over your fund and am very
sorry if you failed as this is the last chance you have to receive
your Funds.

Please here is the Western Union information in the name of my
messenger to avoid delay in receiving your fund and remember that I
have done my best for you and I will make sure that your fund get to
your hand as I have promise and assured you if you comply and build
your trust on me. Do forward the payment information as soon as you
are done with the payment.

Receiver Name: MIKE ONU
Payout Destination: Lagos / Nigeria
Text Question: Very
Text Answer: Good
Amount: $125.00 USD.

I shall await your urgent response once you are done with the payment today.
Sign and Approved.

Maria E. Brewer
Deputy Chief of Mission
U.S. Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam