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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • blessingzuma_1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: blessingzuma_1@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2006 09:21:27 +0200
Subject: RE: HUMBLE REQUEST

FROM: BLESSING ZUMA
24 PRESIDENT STREET HOUGHTON
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA.
E-mail: blessingzuma_1@yahoo.com
TEL NO: 27-73-385 4765

ATTN: THE PRESIDENT/CHAIRMAN.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Naturally, this letter will come to you as a surprise since we have not met, permit me however to introduce myself; I am Blessing Zuma a Zimbabwe, currently under the custody of United Nations in South Africa. I used to work in three tobacco farms in Chipinge, These farms which were owned by my late father. I am contacting you as the need for me to have a foreign partner in your country has become necessary due to my plans to relocate to that country so that I can invest my money in a business with your assistance and directive, as the present political instability in
Zimbabwe, does not encourage financial investment as the environment is no longer
conducive for farming investment and most of all security is not guaranteed just as reported by international media. I am 23 years old girl and I will appreciate your co-operation regards to this matter.

This problem started when the Zimbabwe government under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe announced a decree on May 31st 2000 to seize
more than 849 white-owned farms including farms owned by blacks who are in support of the whites. During this period, as reported by international media and the CNN, more than 27 white farmers(including my father) were killed; the government did not stop at this, as the government has already asked all white-farmers to give up their farms to black farmers or risk going to prison. So far, more than 1,400 white owned farms have been invaded and confiscated, as well as claiming the properties of the
farmers. Also, about 133 white farmers arrested for defying the orders to leave
their farms under the controversial land reform program of the government. Having
lived in this country Zimbabwe for years, I have no other country to go to and South Africa is a neigbour country.Therefore I decided to contact you, for your assistance, so that I can divert my interest in Zimbabwe to a more stable country as yours.
Also, I must re-iterate the importance of having a citizen of your country to front for me, since I intend to purchase some land for farming or invest in other business, I do not know much about your land-ownership laws. I thought it wise to seek the help of a foreigner to act as proxy for me. For this purpose, I have money (18.5 Million) deposited by my late father in a security company in South Africa as family valuables. The money is from the contract warded to my late father by the government before this problem arise, the president ordered for the killing of my father because he was against the law to seize all farms owned by whites.


I will upon receiving your consent inform the security company for the release of the consignment (Fund), pending my arrival to meet with you in your country so that we can both make further arrangements with regards to invest the money. For your assistance to me, you will be entitled to a commission of 25% of the total. If you are interested and willing to assist me, you should please forward to me via my confidential email the following information so that I can reach you or you contact me on my telephone number above:

1. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
2. YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER,

I am waiting urgently for your response, while also requesting that you treat this matter in strict privacy.

God bless.

I will give you more details when i hear from you.

Best Regards
Blessing Zuma.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam