419 scam: "Mrs.Maria Rodriguez." <w273999@gmail.com> Attn: My Dear good friend,

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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:
- ",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)
- "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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (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.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
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.
- +22965499301 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- marinvarc196@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Maria Rodriguez." <w273999@gmail.com>
Reply-To: marinvarc196@aol.com
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2023 15:13:58 -0800
Subject: Attn: My Dear good friend,

Attn: My Dear Good Friend,

I am Mrs.Maria Rodriguez; I am a US citizen, 52 years Old. I reside in
the state of Texas 75773. My residential address is as follows 23329
Live Oak Dr.Mineola,Texas 75773, United States, am thinking of moving
since I am now wealthy, I am one of those that took part in the
Compensation in Cotonou,Benin Republic West Africa many years ago and
they refused to pay me, I had paid over Us$52,000.00 while in the
United State, trying to get my payment all to no avail.

So,I decided to travel down to West Africa precisely Cotonou,Benin
Republic with all my compensation documents, and I was directed to
meet Barr.MariÃ¡n Å varc, who is the member of OUTSTANDING PAYMENT AWARD
COMMITTEE and a Human Rights Activist (Lawyer), and I contacted him
and he explained everything to me. He said that whoever is contacting
us through emails are fake.

He took me to the paying bank for the claim of my Compensation payment
Right now I am the happiest woman on earth because I have received my
compensation funds amounting to $2,500,000.00. Moreover, Mr.MariÃ¡n
Å varc showed me the full information of those that won lottery and
those whose inheritance had not been paid and the list of all
outstanding contractor that were owed that are yet to receive their
payments in Benin Republic,Ghana and Nigeria and I saw your
information's as one of the scam victims, that is why I decided to
email you to stop dealing with those people, they are not with your
fund, they are only making money out of you.

I will advise you to contact Mr.MariÃ¡n Å varc directly on this information below.

Name: Mr.MariÃ¡n Å varc (Barrister) his country is slovensko but he
based in west Africa Cotonou,Benin Republic.
Email:marinvarc196@aol.com
Tell : +22965499301

You really have to stop dealing with those people that are contacting
you and telling you that your fund is with them, that they are
Government officials, it is not in any way with them, they are only
taking advantage of you and they will dry you up until you have
nothing.

Take Note,the only money I paid after I met Mr.MariÃ¡n Å varc was just
$250.00 for the paper works, take note of that.

Thank You and Be Blessed.

Mrs.Maria Rodriguez.
23329 Live Oak Dr.Mineola,
Texas 75773 USA.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam