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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: "NELSON MAZWAI" <mailmazwai@mailbox.co.za> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 01:07:49 -0700
Subject: ACKNOWLEDGE MY MAIL ( Mutual Benefit )

MR. NELSON MAZWAI
DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY,
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA.
DIRECT PHONE: +27-846662715
DIRECT FAX: +27-11-5076986

Dear Sir/Ma,

It is my great pleasure in writing you this letter on behalf of my colleagues. Your information was given to me by a member of the South African Export Promotion Council (SAEPC) who was with the Federal Government delegation on a trip to your country for a bilateral conference talk to encourage foreign investors. I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it confidential because of the nature of this business. Within the Department of Minerals an Energy where I work as a Director of Audit and Project Implementation and with the co-operation of two other top officials, we have in our possession as overdue payment in US funds.

The said funds represent certain percentage of the total contracts value executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we the officials over-invoiced to the amount of US$25.500,000.00 (twenty-Five Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars). Though the actual contracts cost has been paid to the original contractor, leaving the excess balance unclaimed.

Since the present elected Government is determined to pay foreign contractors all debts owed so as to maintain good relationship with foreign government and non-government agencies, we include our bills for approvals with the Department of Finance and the South Africa Reserve Bank <SARB>. We are seeking your assistance to front as beneficiary of the unclaimed funds, since we are not allowed to operate foreign accounts. Details and change of beneficiary information upon application for claim to reflect payment and approvals will be secured on behalf of You/your Company.

All I need from you is to STAND AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE SAID FUNDS AND PROVIDE A CONVENIENT BANK ACCOUNT FOR THE TRANSFER of the above quoted sum which has already been deposited in a suspense bank account with the south Africa Reserve Bank where the final crediting is expected to be carried out. Meanwhile we shall secure various legal contract fund transfer documentations that will back up our claims in your name/company and the apex bank will transfer the funds into your bank account as the approved beneficiary.

As soon as I receive your response indicating your willingness to workout this transaction with me, I would email you with all the necessary modalities and disbursement ratio to suite both parties without any conflict.

However, if this proposal is acceptable by you, endeavor to reach me immediately confirming your acceptance.

Best Regards,

MR. NELSON MAZWAI



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