419 scam: "Ms. Maria Ramos" <art@highwaypress.com.au> Warmest Greetings

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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:

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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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.
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.
- officemsmr2@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms. Maria Ramos" <art@highwaypress.com.au>
Reply-To: officemsmr2@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2023 21:26:59 +0800 (WST)
Subject: Warmest Greetings

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. Kindly, you can research me to know more about me if you will. I know this may come to you as a surprise because you do not know me, but I need your trust and assistance urgently because of my present health condition - I am suffering from cancer (a long-term illness). I desire to have a genuine working relationship with you.

I am requiring your help to help me carry out my last wish of distributing my funds to various charitable organizations around you. I deposited the sum of USD 10.5M (Ten million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with a finance/bank in South Africa where I reside now. I have worked hard and donated to many charitable organizations in my community and neighboring countries. However, I want to help across international borders too as God directs me before I pass on.

This inspiration was sparked after watching a YouTube video online about Jon huntsman of the USA, who survived cancer multiple times and donated endlessly toward the cancer issue. He contributed over a billion United States dollars of his money towards helping the less privileged all over the world.

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

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

Kindly reply to me here: officemsmr2@gmail.com

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

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam