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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: <>
Reply-To: <jamesmnkosi2@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2015 18:44:01 +0300
Subject: Attn: Your Reply

Good Day

My sincere apologies if the contents hereunder are contrary to your moral ethics. Open your mind to this one in a lifetime opportunity and please treat with absolute confidentiality.

I am Mr. James Mkhonto Nkosi, Am a Client Relationship Officer at Rand Merchant Bank Private Bank. On 1st December 2013 at about 18:29 hours. A Mozambican Airlines plane that went down in torrential rain in Namibia carrying mining magnates and business people. One of our esteemed clients Mr. Andrew Stapleton made a numbered time (Fixed Deposit) for twelve calendar months in my Bank since October 2013. Upon maturity, we sent a usual notice to his known address but got no answer.

After a month we sent a reminder and finally we discovered that they were also on that same flight on a vacation with his family to Namibia and unfortunately this sad event happened, killing all the people. See the below link for more news about the air crash:

http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Moz-crash-Black-boxes-31-bodies-found-20131201

On additional inquisition, the Bank discovered that he died without making a WILL or TESTAMENT and all efforts made to locate any of his extended relatives proved abortive. On further inquest, it was discovered that late Mr. Andrew Stapleton only stated his wife/business partner on all official documents and she was also dead in the crash.

The total invested sum of US$9.5M still in my bank unclaimed. No one would ever come forward to claim this money.
In accordance with the Financial Services Authority Guiding Principles, the account would be declared fallow and the proceeds would be revert to the possession of the South African Government if nobody applies as the
beneficiary to the funds.

On this note, I wish to invite you as a foreigner partner to stand in as the beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account will be released to you for us to share as similar chances do arise in the Bank and it’s only the Top Executives that siphon such funds for their own aggrandizement.

Upon your acceptance of this proposition I shall give you comprehensive information on how this venture would be accomplished without any hitch.

Moreover, we shall employ the services of a notary here for the purpose of procuring a letter of probate and to obtain all other pertinent documents in your name for the requisite documentation for immediate approval of this fund to your favour.

The money would be shared in the ratio of: Fifty percent for me, forty five percent for you and five percent for lawyer representing us. I pledged that this venture would be accomplished under a justifiable pact that will protect you from any legal trouble and I will use my significant influence in the bank to secure approvals and guarantee the successful completion of this transaction.

Please be informed that your extreme discretion is required. If this proposition interests you, kindly reply me directly by email and indicate your readiness and willingness to finalize this transaction with me. Email me your full names and contact details.

Upon receipt of your positive response with the requested information, I will contact the lawyer to start the preliminary arrangements and also draft an application letter with your endorsement and send it officially to my Bank to enable them start Administrative Processing and Approval in your favour.

Thanks for your time as I look forward to your timely and positive reply.

Respectfully yours,

James Mkhonto Nkosi.

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