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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: John C Nkomo <john_nkomo221@yahoo.co.in>
Reply-To: j.nkomo@voila.fr
Date: Mon, 15 May 2006 20:03:22 +0000
Subject: HELLO, FROM MR JOHNSON.


GOOD DAY,
I am Mr. johnson C nkomo, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe. My Party is opposed to the Zanu-PF Party of the incumbent President Robert Mugabe. I went into a partnership with a white farmer and businessman in Zimbabwe and as we progressed in business, I bought his ideas and philosophy,which made me join the movement for democratic change which is dominated by the whites (of which my colleague is a top member).
We control the greater portion of the white-dominated farms in Zimbabwe and we are major shareholders in major companies in Zimbabwe. The Mugabe government and his political associates are not tolerant to the activities of the movement for democratic change and he is using indirect guerrilla war tactics to oppress the members.Zimbabwe war veterans invaded our farms and confiscated some of our assets and held us hostage. I managed to escape from their brutality but my business partner died in the struggle. He left a message that I should sell off all our assets including the farms, estates and the companies, ensuring that his family relocates overseas and also to invest the money properly bearing in mind that the next step of the guerillas will be to confiscate those remaining assets.
I have successfully sold off the remaining portion of our estates, farms and companies after which I managed with the help of the immigration to sneak into Dakar-Senegal. (west Africa) with the money and my colleague's family. In fact, we are seeking refuge in Senegal at this moment.The total sum in our possession at this moment is the sum of US$25 M (Twenty-five Million US Dollars), realized from auction, sales of the estates, farms and companies. The money is secured in a Security Company because we are not authorized to open an account as refugees.
I got to know you from your country's business journal in Senegal world Trade Centre (SWTC) and from my careful analysis I realized that you could assist in this venture. All I want you to do is to make urgent arrangement and come to Dakar-Senegal, or send me your bank data which would aid us in transferring the money into your nominated account overseas for onward investment.
I have two options for you; the first is that you could choose to have a certain agreeable percentage of the money for nominating your account for this transaction. The other is that you could as well go into a joint business partnership with me for proper investment of the fund in your country. Whichever, way you want it, feel free to notify me. I have also mapped out 5% of the money for all kinds of expenses incurred in the process of the transaction and if you do not prefer joint partnership, I am offering you 20% of the fund, while the rest of 75% will be for my investment.
Contact me through my private email (j.nkomo@voila.fr) while still maintaining the secrecy required in this transaction. Please include your private telephone and fax numbers in your reply.
Yours truly,
MR. JOHNSON C NKOMO.

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