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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: sarah otoo-larkia <otoos908@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sandraotoo.larkai@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 2 May 2020 23:41:05 -0700
Subject: Good day

Good day
My name is Sarah Otoo, I am writing this letter in confidence believing
that if it is the wish of God for you to help me and my family, God
almighty will bless and reward you abundantly and you would never regret
this. Well, my father died earlier two years ago and left me and my mother
behind. My father was working with gold mining company here in Ghana, and
he was the director which the board members of the company titled him over
sixteen years before his death.

I was his only child and I am the only person who can take care of his
wealth now because my mother is not iterate enough to know all my father's
wealth. My father left 75kg of gold in one of the security company here
Ghana.
Now, I urgently need your humble assistance to move this gold from the
security company here to your destination and I strongly believe that by
the grace of God, you will help me invest this gold wisely. I am ready to
pay 20% of the total amount to you if you help us in this transaction and
another 10% interest of Annual after Income to you, for handling this
transaction for us, 5% is for any expenses which you will strongly have
absolute control over. If you can handle this project sincerely and also
willing to assist me in lifting this dust gold, kindly reach me.

Please, note that this transaction is 100% risk free and I hope to commence
the transaction as quick as possible.

Yours sincerely,
Sarah Otoo

Anti-fraud resources: