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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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Fraud email example:

From: frankmpoyo4@yahoo.ca
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 15:50:48 +0200
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED

NO.10 ANDERSON STREET MANDELA CRESENT
JOHANNESBURG 2001.
TEL 27-73-553-55-03

ATTEN: DIRECTOR

My name is Frank Mpoyo, the eldest son of Mr.Desmond Mpoyo of Zimbabwe. This might come to you as a surprise about where I got your contact address. I got your address from the South African Chamber of Commerce in Johannesburg, South Africa.

During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white-owned farms to his party members and his followers, he ordered all white farmers to surrender all their farms to his party members and his followers. My father was one of the best farmers in our country and because he did not support Mugabe's ideas, Mugabe's supporters invaded my father's farm and burnt everything in the farm, killing my father and made away with a lot of items in my father's farm.

Before his death, my father had deposited with one of the Security Company in Johannesburg, South Africa the sum of US$18.5 Million Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).with my name and made every documents with my name both the certificate of depository.

Then after the death of my father, we decided to move to the Republic of South Africa where he had deposited the money in the Security Company as family valuables.

So, I decided to contact you to assist me to transfer this money out of South Africa because as asylum seekers we are not allowed to operate any bank account within South Africa. We have agreed to offer you 20% of the total sum for your assistance, 5% will be mapped out for any expenses that may be incurred in the course of this transaction and 75% will be for me and my family to invest in your country.

All I want you to do is to furnish me with your full
personal phone and fax numbers for easy communication. You can contact me on the above Telephone number. Note that this transaction is 100% risk free and absolutely confidential.

Waiting for your prompt and positive response.
Please read about problems in Zimbabwe from the link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm

God bless you for your anticipated understanding and
co-operation.

I am waiting urgently for your reply.

Best Regards,
Frank Mpoyo
(For Family)





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