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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27731308560 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Martins Mazuri" <mart_mazuri02@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: martins.mazuri1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 22:35:17 +0200
Subject: From:Mr.Martins Mazuri.

From:Mr.Martins Mazuri.
CAMBRIDGE STR,
OFF LOIUS BOTHA STR,
JOHANESSBURG,
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.
TEL:+27-73-130-8560.


ATTN:CEO/MD,

You may be surprised to recieve this letter from me since
you do not know me personally, the purpose of my
introduction is that, I am MARTINS MAZURI the first son of
ROBERT MAZURI who was recently murdered in the land
dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through network
online hence decided to write you,to seek for your co
peration,assistance and understanding. Before the death of
my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the
sum of US$25M (twenty five Million United States
Dollars), in one of the private security companies, as if
he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was
deposited in a box as germ stones and family antiques to
avoid much demurrage from the security company.

This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines and
chemicals for the farms and establishment of new farm in
Swaziland. This land problem came when Zimbabwean
President Mr.Robert Mugabe introduce a new Land Act reform
which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few
blacks farmers. And this resulted to the killing and mob
action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in
the society.

Infact, a lot of people were killed because of this land
reformed Act for which my father was one of the victim. It
is against this background that, I and my family who are
currently staying in South Africa decided to transfer my
father’s money to foreign account since the law of South
Africa prohibits a refugee ( asylum seeker) to open any
bank account or to be involved in any financial
transaction throughout the territorial zone of South
Africa.

As the eldest son of my father, I am saddle with the
responsibility of seeking for a genuine foreign account
where this money could be lodged/ transferred without the
knowledge of my government who are bent on taking
everything we have got. The South African government seems
to be playing along with them.

I am faced with the dilemma of investing this amount of
money in South Africa for fear of going through the same
experience in future since both countries have similar
political history . Moreover, the South African Foreign
Exchange Policy does not allow such investments for
political refugees.

As a business man, whom I have to entrust my future since
both my future and of my family are in his hands,I must
let you know that this transaction is risk free.If you
accept to assist me and my family all I want you to do for
me is to make arrangements and come to Johannesburg-South
Africa, so that you can open a non-resident account which
you will aid us in transferring the money into any account
which you will nominate overseas.

This money we intended to use for investment. I have two
options for you, firstly you can choose to have certain
percentage of the money for nominating your account for
this transaction. Or you can go into partnership with us
for proper profitable investment of the money in your
country either in your area of expertriate or according to
your directives. Whichever the options you want, feel free
to notify me we have also mapped out 5% of this money for
all kinds of expenses we mighty incurred in the process of
this transaction. If you do not prefer partnership I am
willing to give you 15% of the money while the remaining
80% will be for my family's investment in your country.

Contact me with the above Telephone number while I
implore you to maintain the absolute secrecy required in
this transaction. Best regards while hoping in recieving
your confirmention soonest for the speedy takeoff of this
project.
Yours Faithfully,

MARTINS MAZURI
(FOR MY FAMILY).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam