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

Fraud email example:

From: "Mary Zuma" <mary_zuma@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 01:38:55 +0000
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

FROM:MR MARY ZUMA
10 FLORIDA JAN SMUTH AVENUE
JOHANESSBURG REP.SOUTH AFRICA
E-MAIL:mary_zuma@hotmail.com
PHONE + 27-83 9682 173
                                  
            

Dear Director,                            

                                            URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.  

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me personally, but for the purpose of introduction. I am MARY  ZUMA   The First Wife of MR.Morgan Zuma who was recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe.I got your contact from the South Africa Infromation Exchange (S.A.I.E) here in johannesburg and I decided to write for assistance. My late Husband was among the few black Zimbabwean rich farmers murdered in cold blood by the agents of the ruling Government of President Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabwean opposition party controlled by the whites.

Before his death, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of (US$30,500.000.00) Thirty Million Five Hundred Thousand,United States Dollars, with the Security and Finance Company, as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. The money was deposited in a box as consignment to the Security Company to avoid seizure, and also to avoid much demurrage from the Security Company. This money was earmarked for the purchase of new machinery and chemicals for farms and the establishment of new farms in Lesotho and Swaziland.

This land problem arose when President Robert Mugabe introduced a new land Act, which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few blacks vehemently condemned the "Modus Operandi" adopted by the Government, that resulted to rampant killings and mob actions by the war veteran and some political thugs. Precisely, more than thirty-one(31) people have been killed.

Heads of Government from the West, especially Britain and United States of America have voiced their condemnation of Mugabe's plan. Subsequently, the South Africa Government Community (S.A.G.C) has continuously supported Mugabe's new land reform Act. It is against this background that I and my family who are currently staying in South Africa have decided to transfer my father's money into a foreign account.

As the third wife of my husband, I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred without the knowledge of my government who are tactically freezing our family wealth and the South Africa Government seem to be playing along with them.

I am faced with the dilemma of investing this amount in South African for fear of seizure and encountering the same experience in future since both countries have almost the same history. So, the South Africa Foreign Exchange Policy does not allow such investment since I am an asylum seeker.

As a businessman who I must entrust my future and that of my family on his hands, I must let you know that this transaction is 100% risk-free. Therefore, if you accept Us we are willing to offer you 30% Of the total sum for your assistance, 60% will be for my family's investment in your country while 10% will be used for all expenses that might be incurred during the process of the transaction. If this proposal is acceptable to you, Furnish with your telephone and fax number or write me, through this  email address: mary_zuma@hotmail.com, but you should know that this business is highly confidential and shall be kept within yourself.

Best regards

MRS.MARY ZUMA  
(For the family)  

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