419 scam: "Mrs.Meira Pereira" <farms.ltd@gmail.com> From Mrs Meira Pereira (Assistance Joint Venture)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a "Zimbabwe" scam.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27837299067 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- farms.ltd@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Meira Pereira" <farms.ltd@gmail.com>
Reply-To: farmer.co@live.com
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:36:59 +0530 (IST)
Subject: From Mrs Meira Pereira (Assistance Joint Venture)

>From Mrs. Meira Pereira

Tel: +27 83 729 9067

Email: farms.ltd@gmail.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

I know you will be surprised to receive this proposal. Actually I got your contact address from the internet here in South Africa when I was making an intensive research for my investment in your country then I decided to contact you directly.

Firs all I must introduce myself to you, My name is Mrs. Meira Pereira, the Wife of Mr.khruneni Pereira of Zimbabwe. During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our country, he ordered all the white and rich black farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and their follower. My husband was one of the best farmers in the country and a major financier/sponsor of the opposition party [Movement for Democratic Change MDC, and knowing that my husband did not support the president Political ideology, the presidentâ€™s supporters invaded my husbandâ€™s farm, kill him and took over it.

After the death of my husband, I and my only son Peter decided to move out of Zimbabwe for the safety of our lives. Before the death of my husband he deposited USD$22.7 Million we get from the auctioning of our estates, farms and other businesses belonging to our family. The funds are presently being kept away in security Company firm based here in Johannesburg South Africa.

I am looking for any reliable person overseas who is willing to help me and my only son Peter to transfer this money out from South Africa and use it for investment in his/her country because we are asylum seeker here in South Africa and we can not open a non-resident account through which this fund will be channeled out to nominated overseas account.

If my proposition is considered, for assisting us to transfer this money to your country, we will offer you 30% of the total fund, and 5% of the total will be set aside to cover any expenses incurred during this transaction. 65% will be for me and my family to invest in your country under your supervision. Please contact me through Mobile phone +27 83 729 9067 or E-mail: farms.ltd@gmail.com .

Best Regards,

Mrs. Meira Pereira For the family

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam