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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 BUTHELEZI" <johnson_eebutha@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: johnsonbutha@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 04 Jun 2005 17:12:25 +0200
Subject: PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

(PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL)
JOHNSON BUTHELEZI
77 ABEL ROAD
YEOVILLE, JHB
SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: 27_838 921 787

Dear Sir/Madam,

With due respect my name is JOHNSON BUTHELEZI, the eldest son of MR.ANDREW
BUTHELEZI of ZIMBABWE. It might be a surprise to you where I got your
contact address; I got it from the South African Information Network Online
(SAINO) at South African Trade Center. And it is coming to you with good
intention.

During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters
of our President, ROBERT MUGABE to claim all the white owned farms in our
country. He ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to his
party members and their followers.

My father was one of the greatest and best farmers in the country and he did
not support the President's political ideology, and the President's
supporters invaded my father's farm and burnt down everything, shot him and
as a result of the injuries sustained, he became sick and died after five
days. And after his death, my younger brother and I decided to move out of
Zimbabwe for the safety of our lives to South Africa.

But before he died he wrote his will, which reads "MY BELOVEED SON, I WISH
TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SUM OF US$25,000,000.00 (TWENTY FIVE MILLION
UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) WHICH I DEPOSITED IN A BOX WITH A SECURITY
COMPANY IN JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA IN CASE OF MY ABSENCE ON EARTH CAUSED
BY DEATH ONLY.YOU SHOULD SOLICIT FOR A RELIABLE FOREIGN PARTNER TO ASSIST
YOU TO TRANSFERTHIS MONEY OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES. I
DEPOSITED THE MONEY IN YOUR NAME AND YOU CAN CLAIM IT ALONE WITH THE DEPOSIT
CODE. YOUR MOTHER HAS ALL THE DECUMENTS. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR MOTHER AND
BROTHER".

From the above, you will understand that the lives and future of my family
depends on this money and I will be very grateful if you can assist us. My
younger brother and I are now living in South Africa as POLITICAL ASYLUM
SEEKERS and the financial law of SOUTH AFRICA does not allow ASYLUM SEEKERS
certain financial rights to such huge amount of money.

In view of this, I cannot invest this money in South- Africa, hence I am
asking you to assist me to transfer this money out of South- Africa for
investment purposes. For your efforts, I am prepared to offer you 20% of the
total fund, while 5% will be set aside for local and international expenses
and 75% will be kept for my family.

Finally, modalities on how the transfer will be done will be conveyed to you
once we establish trust and confidence between ourselves. Looking forward to
your urgent reply. For detailed information, please contact me on my direct
line + 27-838 921 787

NOTE: THE KEY WORD TO THIS TRANSACTION IS ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY AND
SECRECY. THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE. YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE
HIGHLY
APPRECIATED.

All the best,

JOHNSON BUTHELEZI,
(FOR THE FAMILY)


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