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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "mary lepoto" <mrslepoto@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: lepoto1967za@dbzmail.com
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 11:29:46 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY

FROM: MRS. MARY M. LEPOTO
CONTACT EMAIL: mrslepotom@sify.com

Attn Director/Owner,
URGENT AND STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Good Day,I know you may be surprised to receive this letter, i am a widow
requesting for an assistance . Firstly, I am MRS. MAGRETA T. LEPOTO the wife
of Late MR. DAMBA T. LEPOTO who was recently murdered in the land dispute in
Zimbabwe. I got your contact through the
South African Trade and business Information services and I assure you that
nobody knows about this transaction except me, my two sons.Before the death
of my Husband. He took me to Accra, Ghana to deposit the sum of US$15.6
Million (Fifteen Million Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in a
private Security Company,when He foresees the looming danger in Zimbabwe.
This money was deposited as family valuables to avoid much demurrage cost
from the Security Company.

This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the
farms and also for the establishment of a new farm in Swaziland. The land
disputes started when Zimbabwean President MR.ROBERT MUGABE introduced a new
Land Act reform which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few
black farmers. This resulted to many killings by Zimbabwe war veterans and
some lunatics in the society.Infact,alot of people were killed because of
this land reformed Act for which my husband was one of the victims. It is on
this background that My family and I, who are currently staying in an Island
called Badagry Island it shares the same border with cotonu and we are here
as refugees decided to transfer my Husband's money to a foreign country
since the laws of Island prohibits refugees from opening a bank account that
can contain a huge sum or to be involved in any financial transaction
throughout the territorial zones of the Badagry Island .
Please, I need your assistance to transfer this fund to your trusted
overseas bank account. For your efforts and assistance, I have agreed to
give you 25% of the total sum,while 5% is mapped out to re-imburse all the
expenses incurred in the course of this transaction and 70% will be for my
family
investment in your country.Note that this transaction is 100% clear and
Risk-Free,as I have made every necessary arrangements for a successful deal.

The only thing I solicit you is total assistance to transfer this money,
complete trust and assurance that my own part of money will be safe when
transferred to your account.
Kindly,keep this business proposal highly confidential for security
reasons.if you are interested in assisting me,send reply via the above email
address and include your private phone and fax numbers.

I will respond to you immediately. Looking forward to your urgent

reply, God Bless.

sincerely yours,

MRS. MARY M. LEPOTO
For The Family

_________________________________________________________________
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