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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Maryann Sabata" <marysabata019@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: marysabata000@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:26:38 -0500
Subject: Attn Pls!

Dear Friend,

Good day to you. I am contacting you about a need I have and I believe you
are well able to help me. It all depends on our trusting each other but I've
chosen to contact you prayerfully and believe you are the person to help me.

I am Maryann W. Sabata, 29yrs old woman from Ghana. I became a widow
18months ago. The source of this death was believed to be from our
detractors who are never happy he was making so much progress. The issue is
that my husband sold a piece of land he inherited from his late father. He
made so much fortune from the sales because mineral deposit (gold) was
found to be on the land. He deposited the money(about $24.2M USD) in
STANDARD CHATTERED BANK here in Accra Ghana. He was later afflicted with an
unexplainable disease which kept him incapacitated for two years. Money
could not help him out as he died 18 months ago with the ailment.

After his death, his family was on me to tell them where the money was
lodged as they have taken over all of his belongings. They have also emptied
his bank accounts with other banks and discovered the money was not lodged
there. My husband warned me not to disclose the money to his family before
he died in the hospital. The family has left me and my son with nothing. I
now fend for myself and Junior my son.

My plans are to relocate from Ghana, but I will need to move out the money
left by my husband. Any attempt for me to try and move it in my name will
cause me more problems than I can imagine as an African woman. Once I move
the money out, I'll come to your country where I will invest the money under
your guide.

The main reason of contacting you is to solicit your help in coming forward
as my husband's foreign business partner. I will get all necessary
documents to help us move the fund to you which will enable me to come over
and get the money shared etween us 60% for me 10% for the lawyer who is
going to help in legal processes and 30% for you for helping out.

Please NOTE that the earlier you help me the better as you will be doing God
a great favor because my life is no more save with these people here.

I will need your reply stating your readiness to help in seeing this deal
through.

Please give me your phone number so that I can call you to discuss it
further.

I wait for your favorable reply.

Maryann W Sabata

_________________________________________________________________
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