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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: "MRS MARY KOBE" <mrskobe_mary17@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: johkobe4@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 08:45:25 +0000
Subject: Confidential and Urgent proposal

From: Mrs. Mary Kobe,
17 Stuttgart Avenue, Randburg,
Johannesburg,
Republic of South Africa.
Phone: +27-73-925-84-54
 
ATTN: MANAGING DIRECTOR
                            
                                    VERY CONFIDENTIAL PLEASE
 
I am Mrs. Mary Kobe, widow of late General John Kobe. I got your contact information from my search for a reliable person who is capable of handling a proposal of this magnitude, my late husband has made it that this proposal herein will be at the betterment of his family, and as a matter of fact the person to be the foreign partner will take good care of his investment and family as well.
 
 
My late husband was one of the victims of the Civil war in my home country Sierra Leone and right now we are assylum seekers in south Africa. I have been informed by our family attorney that my late husband deposited a huge amount of money (Thirty-nine Million Dollars) $39,000,000 only, in a security company here in Johannesburg.
The funds was deposited in a consignment as family valuables which ofcourse my husband did inorder to protect the money for his family's investment in case he is no more.
 
In my husband's 'WILL' he stated that one of his partners overseas will take care of his family/properties. The attorney is waiting for my late husband's partner overseas who is to take care of his family/properties according to his WILL. Since no mention was made in the WILL as to who the said partner is, I will be honoured if you will assit my family to transfer this money out of south Africa,and if you will do please contact my son John Kobe {junior } through this account mail: johkobe4@yahoo.co.uk   ,so that he will direct you on the laid down procedures mapped out for a successful transfer of this sum.
 
It has been resolved by the family that 20% of the total fund shall be your share for presenting yourself for this purpose/assistance you will give in this regard,while 10% is mapped-out for the re-enbursement of all local and international expenses, which might be incurred in the transfer process. Finally the remaining 70% is for myself and my children, which a good part of this fund shall be directed towards executing my husband's WILL, which is to buy shares and stocks in foriegn countries including investments in other profitable areas in your country or any other country you will advise is profitable as well, in order to secure my children's future.
To facilitate this transaction,you will please keep in touch with us so that this will be rounded-up in the short time we have mapped out.
 
Note: This is our life and I trust you with it. I want you to reciprocate the same trust, which I repose in you. Give this matter a prompt and quick response. Please, direct your response to my son and discuss with him towards the effective completion of this transaction/how to get this fund out of the security company and wired into your offshore bank account and i will once again ask you to please keep this as confidential as possible.Also if you wish to speak to me please indicate as i am available.
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Best regards,
Mrs. Mary Kobe.
{for the family}


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