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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: "Mr.Themba Mthembu" <morganrichard837@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrthembamthembu2014@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 6 Nov 2021 13:14:40 +0200
Subject: ATTN: Confidant,

Our Ref: Mr.Themba Mthembu
Email— thembamthembu2014@planetmail.net
Email— consultantagent@webmail.co.za
Phone-+ 27 71 700 7449
ATTN: Confidant,

I am contacting you after making official enquiries at the foreign
trade office of the Chambers of Commerce here in Johannesburg, South
Africa. I haven’t disclosed the nature of my intention to anyone due
to the sensitive and confidential nature of the project involved which
is my need for assistance in profiling some investment funds and
transfer of said funds to your country.

I must plead for your confidence and confidentiality and if it so
happens that you are unable to assist in this projects I would crave
your indulgence and ask that you do not divulge this to any other
third party and ignore this email. I am constrained to issue more
details about this mutually beneficial financial project until I get
your positive response by email.

The fund in question $40,000,000.00 (Forty Million USD) accrued from
over-inflated contract executed by foreign contractors through our
connections and the over invoiced amount is waiting to be remitted
from a commercial bank here in South Africa. By virtue of my position
as a senior civil servant I cannot acquire this money in my name due
to the fact that I am bound by the Civil Service Code of Ethics which
bars me from operating bank accounts outside of our shores. On the
other hand it is not safe to keep the funds here due to security
reasons; hence my need to source for an overseas silent partner to
facilitate the transfer of these funds for our mutual benefit.

My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be shared as
follows: 30% to you as commission for your co-operation and assistance
in facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 65% belongs to me.
You will be free to take out your commission immediately after the
money is credited to your account in your country. Since our objective
is to invest the money in a foreign country, it would be appreciated
if you could also help us with advice and direction on investing into
profitable ventures in your country.

What we need to do is give you an approval from the ministry and you
will email the approval to the paying bank to facilitate the
processing and transfer of the contract funds into any of your
nominated bank accounts. If you are interested and capable, I request
you forward your personal details to my private email address
(thembamthembu2014@planetmail.net)to enable me contact you for further
discussion. I would also request that you send me your most
confidential phone number for further communication too.

Respectfully,
Mr. Themba Mthembu
www.kzndard.gov.za
Program Implementation Committee.

AGRIC BANK

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