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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: boyobongani_4@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 22:54:56 +0200
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE

Attn: President/CEO

I know you will be surprised to hear from someone whom you are not well familiar with. I am Boyo Bongani, the son of Dr. Simon Bongani, who was recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe.

I got your contact through South Africa information exchange, (SAIE) In my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential transaction,which involves a transfer of fund to a foreign account, and I decided to write you. The war veterans of the ruling government of President Robert Mugabe support the murdered of my father among the few black Zimbabwean rich farmers in cold blood for the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC)..

The land problem arose when Mugabe introduced a New Land Act that wholly affected the rich white farmers and some blacks vehemently condemned the "modus operandi" adopted by the government. This resulted to rampant killings and mob action by the war veterans and thugs. More than 78 people have so far been killed, Head of government from the West, especially Britain and the United States have voiced their condemnation of Mugabe?s Land Act.

Subsequently, South Africa Development Community (SADC) has continously supported Mugabe. It is against this background that my family and I who are currently residing in South Africa have decided to transfer our inheritance out of Africa as we no longer feel safe anymore and want to transfer this money to a foreign country where we can establish ourselves.

Just before my father sudden death, he took to Johannesburg, South Africa to deposit the sum of US$22.5m (Twenty Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with a Security and Finance Company, as he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe,This money was deposited in a box as valuables to avoid much demurrage from the security and finance company, This amount was earmarked for the purchase of new farm machinery and chemicals, as well as the establishment of some new farms in Lesotho and Swaziland.

As the eldest child of my father, I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking for a genuine foreign partner who will provide where this money could be transferred into without the knowledge of my government who are tactically freezing our family?s wealth and the South African Government seems to be playing along. We are faced with the dilemma of investing the money here, since both countries have almost the same history. More so, the South African Foreign Exchange does not allow such investment as we are residing here under the United Nations asylum protection.

Should you be able and willing to help me and my family, we are willing to offer you 30% of the total sum for your assistance, 10% will be set aside for any expenses we may incur during this transaction, while the rest 60% will be for me and my family, It is our wish to invest our money on commercial property based on your advice.

Please confirm your interest via the above email address or Tel. number 0027-83 424 7661

Best regards.

MR BOYO BONGANI (On behalf of the Family)


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