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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: patcomeza110@webmail.co.za
Date: Tue, 07 Jun 2005 09:07:43 +0200
Subject: RE: PLEASE HELP MR. MASAMBA FAMILIES (TRANSFER OF FUND)


MR. PATRICK MASAMBA
MOBILE : +27-739-629-266
E-MAIL: patcomeza112@yahoo.co.uk

ATTN: SIR/MADAM,

Good day! My name is MR. PATRICK MASAMBA the elder son of SIR MASAMBA JONES of
Zimbabwe. This might be surprise to you where I got your contact address,
from South Africa chamber of commerce and industry in Johannesburg.

During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the support of our
PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE to claim all the white owned farms in our country, so
he ordered all the white owned farmers to surrender all their farms to his
party members and his followers.

And my father is one of the best farmers in our country because he did not support
his idea and his supporters invaded my father?s farm and burnt everything in the farm
and killed my father and confiscated all his investment. After the death of my father,
me and my mother and my younger brother decided to move out of Zimbabwe because our lives is
still in danger with the money my father kept in his hidden safe in my mothers
house. The amount contained in the safe is U.S.$18,700,000.00 (Eighteen million
seven hundred thousand united states dollars) and we decided to move through
diplomatic means to the republic of South Africa where we deposited the money
to a security company and we were forced to seek political asylum as a refugee.
So I decided to contact an overseas investor whom will assist us to transfer
the money out of South Africa.

Because we are asylum seeker here in south Africa,
which deprive us not to operate an account with any bank here in south Africa,
neither to invest. If you consider this proposal we have agreed to offer you 20%
of the total sum for helping us transfer this money to your nominated bank account
anywhere in the world, We have map out 10% for any expenses it will cause during
the process of this transaction, while 80% will be for my family to invest in your
country. Now, I want you to furnish me with your banking details and your personal
phone and fax number for easy communication. You can contact me with the above
telephone and fax number. Kindly destroy this letter even if you are not willing
to assist us.


NOTE: this transaction is 100% risk free and absolutely confidential.
Your urgent response will be highly appreciated.
Thanks and God bless.
Sincerely yours,

PLEASE YOU CAN READ ABOUT PROBLEMS IN ZIMBABWE FROM
THE LINKS BELOW.
http://www.1freespace.com/beetee/nov19_2001.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm
http://www.gta.gov.zw/land%20issues/LAND.htm

MR. PATRICK MASAMBA

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