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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: "Peter Mageza" <sentexpress@gmail.com>
Reply-To: npmageza1@executivemail.co.za
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 05:02:35 -0600 (CST)
Subject: From Peter Mageza




>From The Desk of Peter Mageza
Email: npmageza1@executivemail.co.za

I am Peter Mageza, former Chief Operating officer for ABSA Bank South
Africa. I have asked a friend coming to the UK to send this email on my
behalf. I am getting in touch with you regarding the estate of Alfred and
an investment placed under our bank's management 7 years ago. I would
respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential
and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of
this Email. I contact you independently and no one is informed of this
communication.

In 2000, the subject matter; Alfred came to our bank to engage in business
discussions with our private banking division. He informed us that he had
a financial portfolio of 8.35 million United States dollars, which he
wished to have us invest on his behalf. Based on my advice, we spun the
money around various opportunities and made attractive margins for our
first months of operation, the accrued profit and interest stood at this
point at over 10 million United States Dollars.

In mid 2002, he instructed that the principal sum (8.35M) be liquidated
because he needed to make an urgent investment requiring cash payments in
Hong Kong and China. We got in touch with a specialist bank in South
Africa, Standard Bank of South Africa who agreed to receive this money for
a fee and make cash available to Alfred. However Standard Bank of South
Africa got in touch with us last year that this money has not been
claimed. On further enquiries we found out that Alfred was involved in an
accident in Mainland South Africa, which means he died intestate. He has
no next of kin and the reason I am writing you is because you are
namesakes.

Standard Bank has since returned stated funds to us and since close of
last fiscal quarter was deadline for funds to be claimed by any relative,
it will revert to government ownership anytime soon. What I propose is
that since I have exclusive access to his file, you will be made the
beneficiary of these funds. My bank will contact you informing you that
money has been willed to you. On verification, which will be the details I
make available to my bank, the claims department of my bank will be
instructed to make payments to you. You do not have to have known him. I
know this might be a bit heavy for you but please trust me on this. For
all your troubles I propose that we split the money in half. In the
banking circle this happens every time. The other option is that the money
will revert back to the state as i mentioned earlier.

Nobody is getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the
KEY to these funds, and as a South African National we see so much cash
and funds being re-assigned daily. I would want us to keep communication
for now strictly by email

Please, again, note I am a family man; I have a wife and children. I send
you this mail not without a measure of fear as to the consequences, but I
know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that success
and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. This is the one truth
I have learned from my private banking clients. Do not betray my
confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this. Do
get back to me immediately via my private email above.

I await your response.
Mr. N. Peter Mageza

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