419 scam: "Mahama Ayariga" <infomahama@yahoo.com> MINISTER FOR INFORMATION: GHANA

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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:
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- mahamainfo@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mahama Ayariga" <infomahama@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mahamainfo@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 01:03:57 -0000
Subject: MINISTER FOR INFORMATION: GHANA

Attention:

I am the Minister for Information Mahama Ayariga.

And as the Information Minister, I got an info that a certain refugee here
in our refugee camp named you as the rightful beneficiary of his fund
($40mUSD) before his illness but the funds were never delivered to you
properly and then a Banker has used your Millions of Dollars to Buy Gold
Company and Hotel here in Accra Ghana South District. In this case, the
Banker has been arrested and prosecuted at the High Court of Justice here
in Accra Ghana.

The Government has authorized me as the minister for Information to inform
you about the present situation, and to also inform you to either Come to
Ghana, or we are to make Change of Ownership of the Company and the Hotel
to your own Name, to ensure the Company is legally Handed Over to you, or
you can inform me on what to do, either to sell the Company and the Hotel
so i can Transfer you the Fund through Bank here in Accra Ghana West
Africa.

Thanks for your Understanding. Hope to hear from you soon and please i
urge you to help out, looking forward to working with you.

--
Mahama Ayariga
Minister for Information & Media Relations
Accra Ghana
+233264293581
E-mail - mahamainfo@yahoo.com
Web -
http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/2012-02-08-08-18-09/ministers/582-mahama-ayariga

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam