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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: "Johnson Mazikele" <johnsonmazikele@galmail.co.za> (may be fake)
Reply-To: johnson_mazikele@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 11:34:14 +0200
Subject: WHY I WRITE YOU

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
DIRECT TEL: +27 73-5993635
Email: johnson_mazikele@hotmail.com



I am Mr. Johnson Mazikele, Provincial Director FIRST NATIONAL BANK of South Africa, Johannesburg Branch. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.

On June 8, 2002, a Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the South Africa Mining Corporation, Mr. Charles Anderson made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for Twelve calendar months, valued at $10,540,000.00. (Ten Million Five hundred and Forty thousand united states dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the South Africa Mining Corporation that Mr. Charles Anderson died from a CARDIAC AREST. On further investigation, I found out that he died without a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Charles Anderson did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of $10,540,000.00. (Ten Million Five hundred and Forty thousan United States dollars) is still in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to South Africa Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the South Africa Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Charles Anderson so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.



This is simple; I will like you to provide immediately your full names which will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the service of an Attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. You are free to provide any account in any part of the world, to facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 35% ,5% to cover any expenditure that we may incur for you and 5% for any expenses incurred during the transaction.

There is NO RISK at all as the Attorney and my position will do all the paperwork for this transaction as the Branch Manager I guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via my Email. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent reply.

Regards,

Mr. Johnson Mazikele




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