419 scam: "John Sefularo"<johncapetown@rediffmail.com> Please Read!

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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "John Sefularo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johncapetown@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 13:34:02 -0000
Subject: Please Read!

Hello

My name is John Sefularo, I am the Son of the Late Deputy Health Minister of South Africa who passed away last year. In order to make the long story short. After my Father sudden death April 5th 2010,i discovered he left me an inheritance of £1,000,000 (One million Pounds)in the UK. I am 16 years old and in his will he stated, I cannot have access to the funds until I am 21yrs. I am the first child he had before he got married to my step mum,but he never married my mother, and I am stuck here in South Africa and there seems not to be bright further for me.

It is on this note i am contacting you to help me. I have spoken with a lawyer in London and she says, if i present someone as my guardian then the funds can be release to the individual for my keeps. I want you to be my guardian so you can see me through university, and I hope you can treat me like your own child and if possible I can join you in your country and get into university and start a new life and leave the pains behind. If you would adopt and take care of me, then the funds can be yours. Get back to me if you are willing, so I can give the lawyers contact and tell her that, I acknowledge you as my legal guardian to represent me.

Please confirm my dad’s story from links below.

http://www.budapestreport.com/2010/04/05/south-african-deputy-health-minister-dies-car-road-accident/
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Deputy-health-minister-dies-20100405
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article386942.ece/Deputy-health-minister-dies-in-car-accident

Please help me, so I can get out of this country as my dad’s death is so mysterious and I am afraid to live here anymore. Just promise me education in a university and the money can be yours as long as you take care of me.

Yours
John

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam