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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: "Ms Mary Dartey" <marydartey@email.com>
Reply-To: mary.dartey@email.com
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 2016 22:43:43 +0500 (UZT)
Subject: Request for Assistance.




Greetings,

Happy New Year to you. I am Ms Mary Dartey 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 a
South African who died in a car accident on the 4th of July 2010 here in
Accra Ghana. My late husband 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.dartey@email.com.

Regards,
Ms Mary Dartey

Anti-fraud resources: