419 scam: "Mrs. Maria Rodrigues" <de236908@gmail.com> (no subject)

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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
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.
- mariarodrigues33yt@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Maria Rodrigues" <de236908@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mariarodrigues33yt@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2024 07:08:56 +0000
Subject:

Greetings beloved,

I know this message might meet you in utmost surprise. However, it's just
my urgent need for a foreign partner. I would like to know if this proposal
will be worthwhile for your acceptance. I need your honest assistance to
actualize my humanitarian project. Sadly, I am critically down with
terminal sickness and on the verge of death. I want you to utilize my
inheritance funds, Three million one hundred and Fifty thousand united
states dollars ($3,150,000.00) for a charity purpose in your country as
soon as you receive these funds. It will be my greatest joy to conclude
this project with you before I die. Further details shall be provided to
you upon your response to my proposal.

Your positive response shall be appreciated. Contact my private email
address below for more details on (mariarodrigues33yt@gmail.com).

Your sister,

Mrs. Maria Rodrigues

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam