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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: "Monica Lokomboh" <monicalok@msn.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 8 May 2005 21:28:04 +0200
Subject: Assistance with investment in your country

FROM : MONICA LOKOMBOH
TEL : +27 82 047 5205

Assistance with investment

This very confidential request should not come as a surprise to you. I got your contact numbers from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, here in Johannesburg, South Africa.

I am Monica Lokomboh,the wife of the late L.T. Col. KABONGO LOKOMBOH, who was the Chief Security Officer to the late President Laurent Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo, with regards to your trustworthiness and reliability, I decided to seek for your assistance in transferring some money out of South Africa into your country, for onward dispatch and investment.

I will reveal to you, based on the fact that I could rely on you, the height of the crisis that led to Laurent Kabila assassination, he personally mandated and instructed my husband to create and fully equip special elite force, to protect him against the rebels then, working against his government. This instruction was very discreet and highly confidential and was backed up with the sum of US$12.700, 000.00 (Twelve million Seven hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in cash, for the purchase of Arms and Ammunition from an independent arms dealer in Republic of South Africa.

We brought this fund to South Africa, where he was supposed to negotiate and purchase the Arms and Ammunition. This money was transported through diplomatic means, and negotiation was still in progress when the news came to me that our President has been shot. He then quickly decided to stop all negotiations and diverted the all funds to our personal use, as it was golden opportunity. He then left me and the children and went back home to attend the funeral of Laurent Kabila where he was also killed.

This money is presently deposited in a Security Company here in Johannesburg, South Africa since January 2001 although the Security Company does not know the real content of the box. We deposited it as family treasure containing Gold and Diamond. I now seek your assistance in providing an overseas account to enable me transfer this money out of South Africa, to where it can be invested. I have made all the necessary arrangement on our own side to ensure smooth remittance. However, due to my refugee status I cannot operate a bank account here; neither can I invest here in South Africa. Hence my desire is to transfer and invest in your country. With this development I will be pleased to welcome you in South Africa to enable us open a non-resident account on your behalf for onward transfer to your nominated overseas account. Please note that your account has got to be in a position to carry that amount of money.

For your assistance, after the transaction, I have agreed to give you 15% of the total sum, while 5% will be set aside for any unexpected expenses(Telephone calls, bank charges, etc) incurred by both parties during this transaction. The balance of 80% will be for my investment. l intend to keep my presence here in South Africa low profile due to my popularity back home, so I request all information provided to be kept secret and confidential.

I am obliged to provide details immediately as soon as I receive the acknowledgement of this letter from you, indicating your interest to assist me. You can contact me with the above e-mail or preferably, through satellite telephone.

Best regards,

MONICA LOKOMBOH


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