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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: "james mobutu" <james536mobutu@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: james_101_mobutu@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:18:49 -0500
Subject: GOOD DAY

DEAR SIR,
I AM A CITIZEN OF ZAIRE, SON OF THE LATE FORMER PRESIDENT OF ZAIRE
(PRESIDENT MOBUTU SESE SEKO) SINCE THE DEATH OF MY LATE FATHER SOME YEARS
AGO I HAVE BEEN RESIDING IN GHANA ON TEMPORARY POLITICAL ASYLUM. ON MY
ARRIVALIN GHANA AFTER MY LATE FATHER'S BURIAL, I
CAME INTO GHANA. WITH A DIPLOMATIC PACKAGED CONSIGNMENTS CONTAINING THE SUM
OF $12,000,000.00 (TWELVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) WHICH I GOT FROM
PART OF THE MONEY MY LATE FATHER MADE THROUGH DIAMONDS SALES WHEN HE WAS THE
PRESIDENT OF ZAIRE FOR ABOUT 32 YEARS.PRECISELY, SINCE MY ARRIVAL WITH THE
DIPLOMATIC PACKAGED CONSIGNMENT IT HAS BEEN SAFELY
KEPT WITH A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN GHANA MOREOVER,I DO NOT WANT TO INVEST
THIS MONEY IN ANY PART OF AFRICA DUE TO THE CONSTANTPOLITICAL INSTABILITY IN
AFRICA.MY PLAN IS TO USE THIS MONEY TO INVEST IN APROFITABLE BUSINESS IN ANY
PART OF THE WORLD APART FROM AFRICA, ALSO TO PURCHASE A RESIDENTIAL
ACCOMMODATION. I WILL COME OVER AND SETTLE THERE WITH MY FAMILY. HENCE,I AM
SOLICITING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AS MY FOREIGN PARTNER TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY
ON MY BEHALF ON ARRIVAL ABROAD AND TO KEEP IT INA SAFE PLACE PENDING MY
ARRIVAL TO JOIN YOU UP. UPON
THE RECEIPT OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO MY PROPOSAL, I CAN IMMEDIATELY ARRANGE FOR
THE MONEY TO LEAVE GHANA IN YOUR FAVOUR (i.e. AS THE BENEFICIARY) FOR ONWARD
MOVEMENT TO WHERE YOU CAN RECEIVE THE CONSIGNMENT. PLEASE IF YOU ARE WILLING
TO ASSIST ME, DO SEND INYOUR
REPLY IMMEDIATELY BASED ON THE FOLLOWING: -
(1) WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THIS AMOUNT DO YOU INTEND TO CHARGE FOR YOUR
ASSISTANCE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EXPRESS YOUR MIND,
(2) INCLUDE YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO ENHANCE THE
CONFIDENTIALITY,WHICH THIS BUSINESSDEMANDS.
SHALL INFORM YOU WITH NEXT LINE OF ACTION AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR POSITIVE
RESPONSE. 10% OF THE TOTAL MONEY WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR ANY EXTRA
EXPENDITURE. I ASSURE YOU THAT THERE WILL NOT BEANY BLOW BACK.
BEST REGARDS,
JAMES MOBUTU

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