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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: "maria wemba" <maria_w_wemba24@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: maria_za11@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:39:12 +0300
Subject: PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE

FROM: MR.JOHN WEMBA
206 CHRIST CHURCH ROAD,
FOURWAYS, JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA.
TEL:+27 83-721-30-56

ATTN: CEO/DIRECTOR,

Sir/Madam,
                                         PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE

I am MR.JOHN WEMBA, The fist son of Late Engineer Michael wemba, of
Bulawayo-Zimbabwe.I and my mother are now resident in South Africa as an Asylum seeker(REFUGEE). I hope that you can take care of the amount involved. I have
some huge amount of money, which I inherited from my dead father few months
ago.

My father’s tragedy occurred when the Zimbabwean government took our
farm from us. My father was murdered in Zimbabwean and I and my mother are
the only people left in the family, so I am willing to leave South Africa
for any place abroad. My fund is presently deposited with a SecurityCompany
without disclosing the contents of the box to the Security Firm, and I
would like you to help me transfer this money overseas pending investment.
 

The amount deposited is (Forty Million United States Dollars) US$40
Million.

In consideration of your assistance, I agreed to offer you, upon
acceptance to this proposal 30% the remaining 70% will be for me and my mother for
our life investment in your country.

If you are interested and willing to assist me, you should please
forward tome your following information so that I can reach you:

1) YOUR FULL NAMES
2) YOUR PHYSICAL/POSTAL ADDRESSES
3) YOUR PRIVATE TEL, FAX AND MOBILE PHONE NUMBERS
4) YOUR DATE OF BIRTH
5) YOUR MARITAL STATUS

The confidentiality of this proposal will be highly appreciated.

Thanks as I await your urgent response.

Best Regards,
MR.JOHN WEMBA


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