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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "ZUMA MARGARET" <zedmail_2000@msn.com>
Reply-To: zumamargaret2@rediffmail.com
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 10:21:22 +0000
Subject: PLEASE ASSIST

DEAR FRIEND,

I AM WIFE OF SACKED DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SOUTH
AFRICA,JACOB ZUMA.

IT IS OUT OF DESPERATION THAT I AM SENDING YOU THIS
MAIL. MY HUSBAND AND I NEED YOUR HELP IN FRONTING FOR
US AS OWNER OF FUNDS THAT ARE HIS WHICH MIGHT COME
UNDER INVESTIGATION SOON IF THE FUND'S OWNERSHIP IS
NOT CHANGED SOONEST. AS MY HUSBAND'S FINANCES ARE
INCREASINGLY BECOMING THE SOURCE OF INVESTIGATION BY
OUR DISTRACTORS. THE SOURCE OF THESE FUNDS WHICH MY
HUSBAND'S EARNINGS WOULD NOT VALIDATE, WILL FURTHER
SINK HIM INTO THE CESSPOOL DUG BY OUR ENEMIES.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THE DIRE STRAIT WE FIND OURSELVES
THAT WE RESOLVED TO REACH YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR
ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. WE ARE AVERSE TO LETTING
THOSE WE KNOW HERE INTO THIS DEAL BECAUSE WE ARE NO
LONGER SURE OF WHO OUR FRIENDS ARE. YOU WILL BE
HANDSOMELY REWARDED IF YOU CHOOSE TO HELP US IN
PARTNERSHIP IN THIS DEAL.

I WILL BE EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM YOU VIA MY PERSONAL
EMAIL ACCOUNT (zumamargaret2@rediffmail.com) AND WILL DISCLOSE
FURTHER DETAIL TO YOU UPON YOUR RESPONSE. DO WELL NOT
TO DISCLOSE THE CONTENT OF THIS MAIL TO ANYONE.

BEST REGARDS,

MARGARET ZUMA.


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