419 scam: "Mrs. Maureen A. Greaves" <debralawrence553@gmail.com> Dear Beneficiary,

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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:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Maureen A. Greaves" <debralawrence553@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kingradechambers29@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2022 13:30:01 +0100
Subject: Dear Beneficiary,

Dear Beneficiary,

Reference to several reports and complains received from the IMF/WORLD BANK
on inability, gross misrepresentation of foreign clients, Contractors and
funds beneficiaries, Lotto Winners. We have received a payment mandate from
the Ministry of Finance, Benin Republic instructing us to release pending
payments to various funds beneficiaries without delays.

After going through our records/files during our last meeting, we
discovered that your file was dumped and not treated and therefore caused
you delay from receiving your Winning Prize and its interest. We hereby
apologize for the delay in releasing your payment to you as at when due.
Please we advise you to stop/desist from further communication with any
office of Foreign Bodies abroad except our office if you want your payment
to be Released via Platinum Gold ATM Master Card as scheduled in your
favour.

The total value of your funds is USD1.2 Million (One Million Two Hundred
Thousand USA Dollars) only already loaded in a Platinum Gold Card and would
be mailed to you via a reliable courier service. Please reconfirm your
Delivery address and telephone number for easy communication. We need your
cooperation to enable us to serve you better.
Regards,
Step Mark.
Computer Analyst,
Data Processing/Payment Unit.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam