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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Malusi Gigaba" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gigabam@minister.com>
Date: Tue, 30 May 2017 18:57:06 -0500
Subject: FROM THE OFFICE OF THE FINANCE MINISTER, MALUSI GIGABA.

Attention,
 
 
I write in respect of the fund brought to the department of National Treasury from Reserve bank in your name.
 
 
From the detailed information contained in the file that accompanied the fund, the fund was supposed to be transferred to you from Reserve bank before now, but was not due to some reasons that were not specified in the file.
 
 
The fund is equivalent to R126,000,000.00. Are you aware of the fund?
 
 
This notification stands as the final notice for your fund to be released to you, therefore, your immediate reply is needed for the release of your fund to you.
 
 
You are required to confirm the following details, so that we can commence your fund release process;
 
 
1, Your full name and address.
2, Your age and occupation.
3, Your cell phone number.
4, Private/alternative email address(if any).
 
 
Yours Sincerely.
 
 
Malusi Gigaba
Minister of Finance,
Republic of South Africa.
Fax: 086 265 0311.

Anti-fraud resources: