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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: "Nelson Zuma" <nelsonzuma173@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 08:38:34 +0200
Subject: PLEASE ASSIST US

FROM MR NELSON ZUMA

GAUTENG JOHANNESBURG

SOUTH AFRICA.



Dear Sir/ Madam,

With due respect, trust and humility, I write to you this proposal, which I
believe would be of great interest to you. I find your contact while I was
doing a private research on the Internet for a reliable and capable foreign
partner that will assist my family and I to transfer fund to his personal or
private account and for investment purpose. I am Mr. Nelson Zuma the son of
Late Mr. Williams Zuma, who was the "Chairman" of the farmer’s co-operation
in Zimbabwe.

My Father was among the few blacks that were murdered in cold blood by the
President Robert Mugabe Administration during the land dispute that just
happened in Zimbabwe recently, you can view some documental picture of this
incident atwww.freeroybennett.com/storyinpictures.html. Before the death of
my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of US $12.5
(TWELVE MILLION,FIVE HUNDERED UNITED STATE DOLLARS) in one of the Private
Security Companies as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This
money was deposited in a box as gemstones to avoid much demurrage from the
Security Company.This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines,
chemicals for the farms and establishment of new farm in Swaziland.

We are presently in South Africa as Refugee (Asylum Seekers) and as such the
law of South Africa does not permit us to operate or open any bank account
here in South Africa or be involved in any financial transaction with the
bank. That is why we contacted you to assist us in this transaction.

We are ready to compensate you with 20% of the total fund for accepting to
assist us, and 5% of the money will be keep outstanding for any expenses
that we make. I shall be glad to give you more clarification on the
modalities needed for smooth successful completion of this transaction.

I anticipate your quick response.
Best regard.

Mr. Nelson Zuma
(For and On behalf of my family)

_________________________________________________________________
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