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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: "FROM MR.JOHN BALI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnbali17@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:29:19 +0200
Subject: FROM MR.JOHN BALI

FROM MR.JOHN BALI
JOHANNESBURG REPUBLIC
OF SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: +27 783 317 554
EMAIL:johnbali17@gala.net
 
ATTN: MD/C.E.O
 
Dear
Sir/Madam
 
TRANSFER NEGOTIATION
 
 
You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me personally, the purpose of my introduction is that, I am Mr.John Bali first son of Mr.Abrahim Bali, who was recently murdered in the land dispute inZimbabwe. I got your contact through South African Information Exchange decided to write you.
 
Before the death of my father, he had taken me toJohannesburg to deposit the sum of US$18.6Million (Eighteen Million Six Houndred ThousandUnited States Dollars), in one of the private security company, as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe . This money was deposited in a box as germ stones to avoid much demurrage from Security Company. This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and established of new farm in Swaziland .
 
This land problem came when Zimbabwean President MR.ROBERT MUGABE introduce a new Land Act reform which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few blacks farmers. And this resulted to the killing and mob action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot of people were killed because of this land reformed Act for which my father was one of the victim.
 
It is against this background that, I and my family who are currently staying inSouth Africa decided to transfer my father's money to foreign account since the law of South Africa prohibits a refugee (asylum seeker) to open any bank account or to be involved in anyfinancial transactionthroughout the territorial zone South Africa . As theeldest son of my father, I am saddle with the responsibility of seeking a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred without the knowledge of my government who are bent on taking everything we have got. The South African government seems to be playing along with them. I am faced with the dilemma of investing thisamount of mone  
As a businessman, who I have to entrust my future since both my future and of my family are in his hands, I must let you know that this transaction is risk free. If you accept to assist my family and me all I want you to do for me is to make arrangements and come to Johannesburg-South Africa, so that you can open a non-resident account, which you will aid us in transferring the money into any account which you will nominate overseas. This money I intended to use for investment.
I have two options for you; firstly you can choose to have certain percentage of the money for nominating your account for this transaction. Or you can go into partnership with me for proper profitable investment of the money in your country. Whichever the options you want, feel free to notify me. If you do not prefer partnership I am willing to give you 25% of the money while the remaining 75% will be for my investment in your country.
 
Contact me with the above e-mail, andTelephone numberwhile I implore you to maintain the absolute secrecy required in this transaction
 
Yours Faithfully,
MR.JOHN BALI.
(For the Family)
 
PLEASE YOU CAN READ ABOUT PROBLEMS IN ZIMBABWE FROM THE LINKS 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
 

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