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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 James Edward <jamesedward.469@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: jamesedward501@aol.com
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 02:31:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM:MRS MARY EDWARD AND MY SON JAMES EDWARD.




FROM:MRS MARY EDWARD AND MY SON JAMES EDWARD.
SEND ME REPLY ON  THIS EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW :
jamesedward501@aol.com
 
 
ASSISTANCE NEEDED AND CONFIDENTIAL.
 
Don't be surprised to receive this mail,I am Mrs. MARY EDWARD, wife of Mr John Edward (EDWARD TOBACCO FARM ZIMBABWE ), My late husband was murdered by Zimbabwe veterans and critic black people of ZANU-PF ruling party, if you are Conversant with CNN AFRICA. View the website below.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7308963.stm
 
Before the death of my husband on the 28th of Feb 2004, he was a prosperous tobacco and coffee farmer who has invested much in Agriculture sector and a very major sponsor of the opposition party (MOVEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC CHANGE). PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE and his ZANU-PF ruling with the new land reform system, the Government secretly sponsored the war veterans and irate party members to dispose the land being occupied by whites and some rich farmers who are opposed to his consistent staying in power, radical and unnecessary reforms target to his political opponents and high rate of abuse of human right which led to the killing of some members of opposition party including my husband Mr John Edward.
 
I acknowledge very well that my late husband deposited the sum of US$10.7M (TEN MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) with a security and financial company here in Johannesburg-South Africa with the intention of using it for the purchase of new farm machineries and chemical for Agricultural purpose from Japan as well as purchasing hectares of land in Botswana.
 
With the high risk of staying in my country we are now on political asylum. (Refugee) here in Johannesburg-South Africa, my position does not allow me to open an account or to normalize this fund to any meaningful business transaction, I want you to understand that this is purely family fund not money laundering affair.
 
I solicit for your honest assistance to a family shattered by Mugabe's Government, I want this fund to be transferred to your nominated account overseas, with your partnership, I will invest in your country, I and my son have agreed to offer you 20% of the fund for your kind assistance then 5% will be for any possible expenses that might occur in the process of this transaction while 75% will be for my family investment in your country, be assured that all the necessary document backing this fund has been arranged by my attorney, feel free to ask any question regarding this transaction.
 
Hoping to hear from you soonest, my son James Edward shall speak to you once we have your telephone contacts etc because i am very sick presently. We need your urgent and confidential response towards this transaction. 
 
Yours Faithfully,
MRS MARY EDWARD AND MY SON JAMES EDWARD.
TEL. +27732531775

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