419 scam: "MS. MARIA RAMOS" <webm46457@gmail.com> 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:

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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "MS. MARIA RAMOS" <webm46457@gmail.com>
Reply-To: msmariaramos01@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2021 13:26:23 +0200
Subject: Hello

Out of respect for your time, my name is Maria Ramos. Born in Lisbon,
Portugal, but my late parents emigrated to South Africa when I was 6 years
old. I am a businesswoman, banker and corporate executive, who serves as
the chairperson of AngloGold Ashanti. Kindly, you can use this link to read
more about me. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Ramos). I know this may
come to you as a surprise because you do not know me, but I sincerely need
your trust and assistance urgently because of my present health condition
- I am suffering from cancer(long-term illness). It is my desire to have a
genuine personal relationship with you.

I need your help to help me carry out my last wish of distributing my funds
to various charitable organizations around you. I have $10,500,000 which I
deposited in an escrow account here in South Africa. The funds are clean;
as these are my savings from all the businesses and Investments I have done
during my active years until I became very ill.

Suffering from cancer of the breast; my doctor informed me that due to my
poor health condition, I would not be able to stay alive past the next few
months. Having known my condition, I decided to donate these funds to
different charitable organizations in your country. I prayed about this and
I have confidence in my decision.

Kindly reply and inform me if you can help me with my last wish. I will
compensate you and your family with 40% of the $10.5M for your efforts.
Thank you for your attention, as I anticipate your earliest response.

Sincerely,
Ms. Maria Ramos.
Help around the World to me is the Greatest Investment.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam