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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: roselyn malusi <roselynmalusi112@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 May 2015 15:24:37 +0200
Subject: letter


From: Mrs. Roselyn Malusi.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Telephone: + 27-83-573-5287.
Email:mrs.roselymalusi@outlook.com


Dear Sir/Madam

I am aware that you will be surprised at the receipt of this inquiry from
me. First of all, I am Mrs. Roselyn Malusi, the wife of Mr. Johnson Malusi
a citizen of Zimbabwe. I got your information during my search for a
reliable and God-fearing person that can assist my family carry out
investment undertakings to the volume of (USD25.5M) in your county.

The above amount represents proceeds from sale of my late husband’s landed
property in Zimbabwe. My late husband was a famous farmer in Zimbabwe and
was assassinated by forces loyal to President Robert Mugabe following the
terrible crisis that resulted from his Land Use Reform Policy, which has
left thousands of Zimbabweans (including white farmers) dead or displaced.

My late husband sensed these terrible developments and quickly sold his
farm lands including other landed properties of the family and secretly
sent and lodged the proceeds (USD$25.5M) with a private security company in
South Africa, a neighboring country. It is important to state here that my
late husband secured the funds in a deposit box and declared content of the
box as “family valuables”.

He also designated the deposit box as “transit”, meaning its final
destination is abroad. This means that the security company is not aware
that actual content of the deposit box is money. This was for obvious
security reasons. It will be important here to inform you that due to our
political status in South Africa (Refugees), we are not allowed by law to
invest the money in South Africa. This is why we are seeking the assistance
of a foreigner to receive the money on behalf of my family for investment
purposes.

Please be informed that my family has appointed a certain banker by
profession, a South African, who has been a friend to my family even before
my husband’s death, to co-ordinate the processes leading to transfer of the
funds to you. He has already drawn up the execution schedule, details of
which he will oblige you upon your indication of acceptance. If you are
interested to help my family in this regard, we are offering you 25% of the
principal amount. Apart from this, we shall also make you a partner in all
the investments we shall undertake in your country.

Lastly, I want to inform you that this money represents my family’s future,
as we do not have any other thing left for us. So, in addition to our
requirement for your confidential handling of this transaction, we would
also need an assurance from you that the funds will be safe when received
in your account. Further details will be given to you by our financial
adviser immediately you indicate interest. You may contact me on my private
e-mail address or telephone stated above.

May God bless you as you accept to assist my family with this request?

Best Regards,

Mrs. Roselyn Malusi.
For the family.

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