419 scam: "JOHN GUMURA"<johngumura@gmail.com> DEAR SIR/MADAM

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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:

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:
- "demurrage " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge sum of money" (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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "million us 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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a "Zimbabwe" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN GUMURA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johngumura@interia.eu>
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:45:55 +0700
Subject: DEAR SIR/MADAM

From:JOHN GUMURA

PLEASE HELP

Firstly, I must introduce myself. I am JOHN GUMURA, a Citizen of Zimbabwe, but I am contacting you from Bangkok Thailand where I am now seeking political asylum.

I am the only son of MR. WEMBA GUMURA, a wealthy black farmer and senior politician with the opposition political party in my country, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Our wicked President Robert Mugabe murdered my father and my mother, before I ran away from my country because I have become his next target to eliminate. My father was a fighter for Justice and a moving force in The MDC, a party wanting to end the several years of brutal Dictatorship government of President Robert Mugabe. You will read more stories about President Mugabe's brutal acts by visiting this web site: http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=735

My father and mother was labeled as opposition to President Robert Mugabe’s government.

The Government saw us as a big threat to them and decided to eliminate us. My mom and dad Mr. & Mrs Gumura . were attacked and murdered in the House, but fortunately, before they came looking for me, I received the news and I left the country through the border to South Africa to save my life, before my arrival here in Bangkok Thailand.

Here is my reason for contacting you. Before the death of my father, he deposited the sum of Ten Million US Dollars ($10M) with a security company during when he went to Thailand to purchase his farm machinery equipment, as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe . The money was deposited as a gem / precious stone in a metal trunk box to avoid seizure and much demurrage from the security company organization. This money was earmarked for the purchase of new machinery and chemicals for the farms and the establishment of new farms in Lesotho and Swaziland .

I am willing to offer you 30% of the US$10 Million for your assistance to provide an account where the funds will be transferred into because I am faced with the dilemma of investing this amount of money in Thailand and the financial law and Regulations of the Republic of Bangkok, Thailand do not permit us financial rights to such huge sum of money. In view of this, I cannot invest this funds in Bangkok, Thailand . Moreover, the Thailand monetary policy/law does not allow such investment by an asylum seeker or refugee.

As I wait for your urgent Response, please treat this information as top secret and send me your full contact details.

Yours truly,

JOHN GUMURA . (for the family).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam