419 scam: "Mr. Nelson Pule" <nelsonpule311@yahoo.com> Sir/Madam Urgent Help

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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a orphan scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27736399944 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- nelsonpule421@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Nelson Pule" <nelsonpule311@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: nelsonpule421@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 14:41:44 -0500 (ECT)
Subject: Sir/Madam Urgent Help

From: Mr. Nelson Pule
Tel: +27 7363 999 44
E-mail: nelsonpule421@gmail.com
1 kozter Street, Johnnesburg
South Africa

Dear Sir/Madam

With due respect, trust and humanity, I write to you this proposal, I
found your contact while I was doing a private researching in the Internet
for a reliable and capable foreign partner that will assist my family.

I am Mr. Nelson Pule, the son of Late Mr. Vincent A. Pule who was a member
of the farmer’s co-operation in Zimbabwe. My father was among the few rich
black farmers that was murdered in cold blood by the President Robert
Mugabe’s admistration during the land dispute that just happened in
Zimbabwe.

After the death of my father, we decided to move out from Zimbabwe to
South Africa for our inheritance, which was deposited by my late father in
Security company and the amount involved is US$38,000,000,00 (Thirty Eight
Million United States Dollars Only).

This money was made for the purchasing of machinary and chemicals for our
new farm establishment in Swaziland, we're presently living in South
Africa as a refugees (asylum seeker) and the law of Republic South Africa
does not permit us to operate or open any bank account here in South
Africa or be involve in any financial transaction, because of our refugee
status, that is why we asking you to help us to invest our inheritance in
your country for our new future.

We are ready to offer you 30% of the total amount for the inconveniences
and your time this may cause you, while 10% will be mapped out for any
expenses that might occur during the process of the transfer, the
remaining 60% will be for our investment in your country or any other part
of the World you decided.

We will appreciate your quick response, because we need to leave this
country soonest.

Thanks, and God bless.

Mr. Nelson Pule
Tel: +27 7363 999 44
E-mail: nelsonpule421@gmail.com
1 kozter Street, Johnnesburg
South Africa

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam