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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: "nicolson benson" <nicolsonbenson31@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: nicolsonbenson1@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:32:47 +0200
Subject: NICOLSON

Att:
PLEASE READ ABOUT PROBLEMS IN ZIMBABWE FROM THE LINKS BELOW.
www1.zimbabwesituation.com
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

I am Mr. Nicolson Benson the elder son of the late Mr. James Benson, from
ZIMBABWE,I got your contact address ,when l was searching for business
opportunities in your country.
During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by supporters of
our President Robert Mugabe to Claim all the white owners farms in my
Country, he ordered all the farmers to surrender their farms to his party
members and their followers My father was in partner with one of the
biggest white farmers in the Country who was killed by President Robert
Mugabe , My Father did not support the presidents political ideology and
killing of white farmer.

Therefore the Presidents supporters invaded my fathers farm burnt down
everything , killed him and confiscated all his investments. After the death
of my father, my mother and I together with my younger brother decided to
move out of Zimbabwe for the safety of our lives. On our departure from
Zimbabwe, We took along with us some of the document's that my father gave
to my mother before he died, which my father told her that he deposited the
amounted of $20,000,000.00( twenty million united states dollars) in the
republic of South Africa before he died, as a personal valuables in Private
Security Company and we sought for Political asylum
My Mother has suggested and I agree that that we have to further move out of
African Continent to overseas for actual safety and to do a reliable
business investments. Therefore we have decided that I should contact any
reliable overseas person , firm, Company who could assist us to transfer
this money out of South Africa through a current investment account because
as refugees we are not allowed to operate any account .
If my proposal is considered ,assisting us to transfer this money to your
country, we confidentially agree to offer you 20% of the total found, 5%
will be for any expenses that may be incurred during the transaction , 75%
will be for me and my family to invest in your country with your assistance.


NOTE: PLEASE FOR THE REASON OF OUR ASYLUM STATUS DO MAINTAIN ABSOLUTE
CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY WHILE WE ALSO PROMISE TO DO THE SAME. I ASSURE
YOU THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.

TIME OF ESSENCE. YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.
Best Regards,
Nicolson Benson

_________________________________________________________________
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