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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: "sani shaba" <sani_shaba1@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 15:05:19 +0200
Subject: A PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE

FROM:MR SANI SHABALALA
CAMBRIDGE HOUSE #I3
RANDPARK RIDGE,
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA.
TEL:+27-73-938-2669.
FAX:+27-72-755-0125.
                                              A  PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE

Dear Sir/Madam,

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me personally, the purpose of my introduction is that, I Sani Shabalala  the first son of Mr. Thabo Shabalala, who was recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe.  I got your contact through network online hence  decided to write  you.
 
Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of US$18.5Million (Eighteen  Million Five Hundred Thousand  United States Dollars), in one the private security company, as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe.  This money was deposited in a box as germ stones to avoid much demurrage from Security Company.  This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and established 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.  In fact, a lot of people was 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 prohibit a refugee (asylum seeker) to open any bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction througout the teritorial zone South Africa.
 
As the eldest son of my father, I am saddle with the responsibility of seeking a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred without the knowledge of my government who are bent from 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 investment as an asylum seeker. As a businessman, who I have to entrust my future and of my family 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 will aid us in transferring the money into any account you will nominate overseas.  This money I intend 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 me for the proper profitable investment of the money in your country.  Whichever the options you want, feel free to notify me I have also mapped out 5% of this money for all kinds of expenses incurred in the process of this transaction. If you do not prefer a partnership I am willing to give you 25% of the money while the remaining 70% will be for my investment in your country.
 
Contact me with the above telephone or E-mail  while I implore you to maintain the absolute secrecy required in this transaction.
 
Yours Faithfully,
Mr Sani Shabalala.
 
(For the Family) .


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