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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: "Miss Martha B" <afuamawusiadofo@gmail.com>
Reply-To: marthabonney2011@rediff.com
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2011 12:13:23 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: Thanks and God bless you




Good Day,

How are you today and hope you are doing well and sound. I plead with you
to read my message carefully for better understanding and help me in any
possible way you can.

My Name is Martha Bonney 19 years old and an undergraduate and I am from
Cote D' Ivoire born to Mr. Marcel Bonney and Nadesh Bonney.

I lost my mum while I was a baby and My father before his untimely death
is a cocoa and gold merchant in Cote D' Ivoire and Ghana, he was also in
politics which took his life. He was shot by unknown gunmen on his way
back from a work and died on August 17th 2010, six days after he was shot,
and since then life has been a nightmare.

Before the death of my father,he called me on his bed side and reveal to
me about some funds and some gold dust that he packed and deposited with a
Security Firm in Accra Ghana as a family treasure. He also told me that he
used my name as his only child as his next of kin to the deposit and in
case he fails to make it that I should take care of myself and get someone
to help invest the money for me. Also in he ordered them to attend to me
and his business partner should in case of any eventuality and stated that
if he cannot come for the deposit, his next of kin will be accompanied by
his foreign business partner.

Presently, due to the political crisis in my country Cote D' Ivoire, as
you maybe well aware, I decided to run away to Ghana for refuge and also
because of the Deposit which he made in the Firm to be retrieved and to
enable me forgo ahead with my education.

This is why I need your help urgently, to help me stand as my fathers
foreign partner and guide me towards attaining the best investment. I am
willing to offer you, 15 % of the total money as compensation for your
assistance.

I will give you more details as soon as I receive your response to help
me. I hope i have not bore you with my problems, please I am sorry for
taking your time and will wait to receive your urgent response.

No matter what your decision may turn out to be, please i beg you to reply
me back.
Thanks and God bless you.
Regards,
Martha


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