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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: bongani-family@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 16:04:29 +0200
Subject: INVESTING IN YOUR COUNTRY

Dear Friend:

It is with heartfelt hope that I write to seek your co-operation and assistance in the context
stated below. Please excuse my intrusion into your private life because I send this mail in good
faith, I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried but
I am sorry and assuring you that all will be well. First and foremost, I apologize using this
medium to reach you for a transaction of this magnitude, but this is due to confidentiality and
prompt access reposed on this medium. In enfolding this proposal, I am counting on you, as a
respected and honest person to handle this transaction with sincerity and trust.

Meanwhile, I wish to properly introduce myself, I am Mr. MAXWELL BONGANI the eldest son of Mr.
Peter Bongani who was murdered in land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through the South
Africa Information Exchange in my search for a reliable and reputable honest foreigner who will
help handle a huge investment transaction. Before my father's death I accompany him to South
Africa to deposit the sum of US $30M (Thirty Million United States Dollars) in a private
Security Vault Company in Johannesburg, South Africa and he made me the next-of-kin and heir
apparent to the deposit. The purpose this money was kept in South Africa was to enable my father
purchase farm machinery and chemicals from abroad through their company representative in South
Africa for establishment of new farms in Swaziland and Lesotho. That dream was dash when
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe introduces a NEW LAND REFORM ACT, which the rich white and
black farmers vehemently condemned the "MODUS OPERANDI" adopted by the Government, which affected
them. This new law resulted to killing, unleashing terror on the local population and us and in a
horrifying systematic manner hacking off the victim’s hands and legs by Zimbabwe war veterans of
ruling Government of President Robert Mugabe. For the alleged support of Movement of Democratic
Change (M.D.C) which is lead by Morgan Tsvangirai that is against Mugabe's rules. A lot of people
lost their lives my father was a victim and I lost one of my fingers in the process, the
prevailing circumstance on the ground in Zimbabwe, shows that Mugabe is treating the issue in a
cavalier way. Heads of Government from the west, especially Britain and United States of America
found Mugabe bossy and dogmatic then reprimanded his New Land Reform Act. My father was the vice
president of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (Z.C.T.U.) that has 400,000 members and all baying
for Mugabe to step down from power. Morgan Tsvangirai was cleared of treason charge in October
last year that he conspired to have President Robert Mugabe assassinated. Regarding the statement
of the US secretary of state Ms. Condeleeza Rice naming Zimbabwe as one of the
world’s six outposts of tyranny. Zimbabweans are hoping that US would help bring freedom to
Zimbabwe hence US had imposed targeted sanctions on Mugabe and his associates, banning them from
travelling and freezing their assets but Mugabe rejects US tyranny slur.

After the gruesome murder of my father, as a man that is so traumatized I was vegetate and pep up
with the money and to have my protection of right to life and survival I moved with the rest of
my family to South Africa on political asylum. In order to invest the money that was deposited
there by my late father and to start a new life. But I was not able to actualize this plan
because the South Africa Government prohibits a refugee from investing huge finance without a
Permanent Resident Permit of Section N/4 Immigration of Allen Act No.96 of 1996. Subsequently,
South Africa Development Community (S.A.D.C.) has continuously supported Mugabe and even the
accolades Mugabe receive from Uganda President was well appreciated by Mugabe’s cabinet. It is
against this background that my family and I who are currently residing in South Africa have
decided to move out of South Africa, to a country where we can establish ourselves, as we no
longer feel safe anymore. I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking for a genuine foreign
partner who will help to establish us with investment in your country. We are faced with the
dilemma of investing the money here since both countries have almost the same history. More so,
the South Africa Foreign Investors Department (S.A.F.I.D.) does not allow refugees to own huge
investment as we are residing here under the United Nations asylum protection. It is at this
point that I am contacting you in view of this grievous threat to our economic and personal
survival. Whenever I think of the whole sad, sordid spectacle of the social injustice that happen
in Zimbabwe, I weep with much pain in my heart. I humbly beg and respectfully solicit for your
co-operation on financial trustee and investment co-ordination and hope you will come to our full
assistance and unlimited co-operation. My family and I had come to a conclusion to invest the
money in Real Estates and part of it will be use for any profitable investment you will suggest
in your country. Please, know that your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the
successful execution of this transaction. In view of this plight, I expect you to be trustworthy
and kind enough to respond to this distress call to save us from a hopeless future.

Therefore, I would want you to indicate your willingness and acceptance to participate in this
transaction and for your candid effort in this regard please feel free to say what you want as
compensation in the total sum. But 5% of the total sum will be set aside to settle any expenses
we might incurs during the process of securing the money to your country before investment will
commence in your country. If this proposal is acceptable and inclined to you, please confirm your
interest by calling me on this phone number (Tel: +27-83-740-4770) or send your response to this
e-mail address (E-mail: maxwellboni@yahoo.co.uk). This transaction itself is safe and has no
risk factor on your part as all necessary arrangement are in place provided you treat it with
utmost secrecy and confidentiality and NOTE that this transaction should be done the utmost good
faith. I look forward to your quick and kind consideration and the earliest of your reply will be
much appreciated.

Best Regards,

Mr. MAXWELL BONGANI
On Behalf Of The Family.

FOR MORE UNDERSTANDING ON THESE ISSUE PLEASE VIEW THESE WEB SITES BELOW:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/southafrica/story/0,13262,1300377,00.html
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2004/10/15/zimbabwe_tsvangirai041015.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4190835.stm





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