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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: "Jacob Zuma" <jacobzuma020@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: jacobzuma2003@easyinfomail.co.za
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 06:55:30 +0200
Subject: SEEKING FAMILY ASSISTANCE

FROM MR.JACOB ZUMA
14TH FLOOR EMBASSY BUILDING
CNR SMITH ALIWAL STREET   
ALBERTON BRANCH JOHANNESBURG
2001 SOUTH AFRICA
 
 
 
 
 
 
Attn: Director/Ceo.
 
 
                                   HUMBLE ASSISTANCE
 
With due respect, trust and humility I write this letter to you seeking your assistance, though it’s difficult since we have not met before. I got your good contact from the South African Information Exchange (SAIE). I believe that you are capable and Reliable to handle an urgent and confidential International transaction of this sort.
 
I am MR JACOB ZUMA, the son of Comrade Border ZUMA the Zimbabwean former Minister for Youth & Gender Equality who was also a businessman and farmer in the Zimbabwe. My father was the famous politician who stood firm against President Mugabe’s idea of continuous fights in Democratic Republic of Zimbabwe. He also stood against seizure of white owned farms and the distribution of it to his black political surrogates without compensation to the owners. Because of my father’s sincerity he was killed on the 14th of April 2001 by a planned motor accident along Mashonaland in Western Mashona province of Zimbabwe. The planners of the accident are said to be dissident Soldiers but it later occurred that they had the backing of the government of President Mugabe.
 
 Sir, when this accident occurred at about 10:15 am Zimbabwean time my father did not die on the spot rather he was rushed to Harare hospitalby some good Samarians. From his hospital bed before he died my father managed to sneak a written message to us explaining his condition. He most importantly informed us of one diplomatic box he concealed under the roof of his private bedroom containing the sum of US$30.5MILLION (UNITED STATES DOLLARS) and other vital documents which were meant for his political campaign in the next election to be held in June 2002. My father wanted to run for the Presidency. He instructed me before his death to take my brother and younger sister with the box of money and leave Zimbabwe immediately for our safety, which we successfully did.
 
 Now we are in South Africa with the BOX OF MONEY deposited in a SECURITY COMPANY. The original documents of deposit are intact with us. It took a miracle for us to SMUGGLE the BOX OF MONEY and the DOCUMENTS into South Africa. Because of South Africa’s existing law, which does not allow asylum seekers/refugees like us to operate bank account that exceed US$2000.00 and the fear that this money may raise eyebrows here in South Africa if we openly start spending or investing it here, we decided to write to you to seek your help and partnership to Transfer this money into your bank account for investment in your company. Arrangements for a hitch free transfer have been fully taken care of here. I want to assure you also that this transaction is 100% risk free as no other person knows about the existence of this box of money apart from my younger Brother and I. As for your reward for your honest assistance and partnership we have resolved to give you 25% of the total amount; 5% of the money shall be mapped out for Expenses that might be incurred by you and us in the course of this transaction. We plan to invest the rest of the money in your country, and if you desire In your company, under your guidance.  Please, bear in mind that our lives depend on this fund and we do hope that this money will be safe when finally transferred into your account. We trust in the faith of establishing a rewarding and good relationship between our family and your family after this transaction. We hope to hear from you as soon as possible from this private email address (jacobzuma2003@easyinfomail.co.za) via above for security reasons.
 
 Thanks for your co-operation.You can visit zimbabwe website below:
 
 Best regards,
 
 MR. Jacob Zuma
 
 


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