419 scam: "Ms Mary Owusu" <maryowusu@email.com> Request for Assistance.

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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:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- mary.owusu@email.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ms Mary Owusu" <maryowusu@email.com>
Reply-To: mary.owusu@email.com
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2015 01:41:34 +0500 (UZT)
Subject: Request for Assistance.

Greetings,

I am Ms Mary Owusu I am a citizen of the Republic of Ghana in Africa,
although it may come to you as a surprise receiving this mail from me
without a due knowledge of me. I was once married to Mr. Alan David Du
Toit a citizen of the South Africa Republic who died in a car accident
on the 4th of July 2010 here in Accra Ghana. My late husband Mr. Alan
David Du Toit was a Gold Merchandise Exporter from Ghana to North
America, South, Central American and Europe.

Ever since my late husband's death my late husband's family have been
disturbing me over the distribution of his wealth, they have already
succeeded in taking over almost all my late husband's properties in his
home Cape Town.

I am only left with the sum of $12,000,000.00 USD (Twelve Million USA
Dollars) and 60KG of Av Gold dust in Two Consignment Boxes which my late
husband deposited in a Security Company here in Accra Ghana as belonging
to his Foreign Business Partner and I have all complete proof documents
in my custody.

This is why I decided to contact you to play the role of my late husband's
Foreign Partner and help me recover this funds and gold from this Security
Company, since it is only when I present my late husband's business
partner to this Security Company, only then WILL this Security Company
release of the Consignments.

You will take 30% and keep the rest for me and my little son.

Please reply me through mary.owusu@email.com.

Regards,
Ms Mary Owusu

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam