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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: hamzz101@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 08:26:48 +0200
Subject: PRIVATE

FROM THE DESK OF STEVE HAMZA
TEL:27-834310008

ATTN: THE DIRECTOR/C.E.O

Sir,

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me
since you do not know me personally, the purpose of my
introduction is that, I am , the first son of ABDU
HAMZA, who was recently murdered in the land dispute in
Zimbabwe. I was furnished with viable information
from the International trade Center here in South
Africa and in support with the chamber of commerce the
same South Africa (JHB) hence l decided to write you.

Before the death of my father, he had taken me to
Johannesburg to deposit the sum of US$23.5 Million
(TWENTY THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND United
States Dollars), in one of the private security
company, as if he foresaw the looming danger in
Zimbabwe. This money was deposited in a box as germ
stones to avoid much demurrage from Security Company.
This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines
and chemicals for the farms and established of new
farm in Swaziland.

This land problem came when Zimbabwean President Mr.
Robert Mugabe introduce a new Land Act reform which
wholly affected the rich white farmers and some
few blacks farmers.And this resulted to the killing
and mob action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some
lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot of people
were killed because of this land reformed Act for
which my father was one of the victim.

It is against this background that, I and my family
who are currently staying in South Africa decided to
transfer my father's money to foreign account since
the law of South Africa prohibit a refugee (asylum
seeker) to open any bank account or to be involved in
any financial transaction througout the teritorial
zone South Africa. As the eldest son of my father,
I am saddle with the responsibility of seeking a
genuine foreign account where this money could be
transferred without the knowledge of my government
who are bent on taking everything we have got.

The South African government seems to be playing along
with them. I am faced with the dilemma of investing
this amount of money in South Africa for fear of going
through the same experience in future since both
countries have similar political history. Moreover,
the South African Foreign Exchange policy does not
allow such investment as an asylum seeker.

As a businessman, who I have to entrust my future and
of my family in his hands, I must let you know that
this transaction is risk free. If you accept to
assist me and my family all I want you to do for me is
to make arrangements and come to Johannesburg South
Africa, so that you can open a non-resident account
which will aid us in transferring the money into any
account you will nominate overseas. This money I
intend to use for investment.

I have two options for you, firstly you can choose to
have certain percentage of the money for nominating
your account for this transaction. Or you can go into
partnership with me for the proper profitable
investment of the money in your country. Whichever
the options you want, feel free to notify me I have
also mapped out 5% of this money for all kinds of
expenses incurred in the process of this transaction.
If you do not prefer a partnership I am willing to
give you 25% of the money while the remaining 70% will
be for my investment in your country.

Contact me with the above telephone E-mail (hamz100@hotmail.co.uk) or fax
numbers while I implore you to maintain the absolute
secrecy required in this transaction.

Yours Faithfully,

STEVE HAMZA
(For the Family)
hamz100@hotmail.co.uk

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