419 scam: Margaret Baah-wiredu <baahmagaret@gmail.com> GREETINGS FROM MARGARET

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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:
- "my names are " (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.

Fraud email example:

From: Margaret Baah-wiredu <baahmagaret@gmail.com>
Reply-To: baahmargaret@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:20:19 +0100
Subject: GREETINGS FROM MARGARET

Mrs Margaret Baah-Wiredu
House 13,C Close,
Agogo Estate, Agogo New Town,
Asante-Akim Agogo
Ashanti Region,Ghana.

Beloved One,

I got your good name and address via the internet.After going through
your profile, I decided to
contact you. My names are Mrs Margaret Baah-Wiredu,and I am living with AIDS
.

Ever since my husband, Hon. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the former Ghanaian
finance minister died in South Africa and I was tested positive of the
AIDS virus, the mass media wouldnt just let me and my family be. My
children stopped going to school because they could no longer stand
the humiliations from fellow students.

The embarrassment is getting on my nerves but what can I do. I would
have loved to travel out of the country to a place where I will have
peace and spend the rest of my life with my children but I couldnt
make it for I am weak and severely sick. Moreover, no Embassy would
grant me Visa to her country with my hairs withering and boils all
over my body.

>From all indications, I know that my days are numbered. In the light
of the above, I have contacted you to
assist me to transfer out of Switzerland the SUM OF $7.3 million U.S
Dollars which my husband deposited as family treasure with a safety
company in Switzerland for the up-keep of my children, and safe-keep
it for my children as they will be coming over to your country in due
course to live and school because I don’t want anyone to know that my
husband moved such money out of the country.

YOU WILL INVEST THIS MONEY FOR THEM IN COMMERCIAL ESTATE OR ANY OTHER
BUSINESS OF YOUR CHOICE YOU DEEM HEALTHY.

I would not fail to appreciate your effort. I am looking forward to
hearing from you while thanking you for your anticipated cooperation
in this regard.

Kind Regards,
Mrs Margaret Baah-Wiredu

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam