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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: Mr.John Koko KHUMALO <johnkoko@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: johnkoko4@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 04 May 2007 14:50:53 +0200
Subject: From Mr John Koko KHUMALO


HUMBLY REQUEST FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE (PLEASE).
ALTERNATIVE EMAIL ADDRESS: (johnkoko4@yahoo.com)

Dear Sir,Madam
It will be a surprise to you receiving this letter today,though we have
not met or transact business before.I got your contact via internet, and then I decided to request for your kind assistance to me as a foreign partner for this transaction, which is
going to profit both of us.Meanwhile, I would like to introduce myself before
moving more further, I am John Koko KHUMALO the Son of Dr.Koko KHUMALO. I
am 25 years old.
My father Dr. Koko KHUMALO deals with gold and diamond and was the Chief
Accountant of a Gold Mining Industry in Kimberly- South Africa before he
past away some few months ago. Knowing fully well that South Africa being
a country rich in Gold and Diamond, my late father who was rich and
famous before he past away entrusted me as his only Son. He told
me on his bed side in hospital with confidence where he
deposited a huge amount of money with a Finance institution in South Africa for save keeping, and which all the relevant documents was handed over to me by him to go- ahead and transfer this money out of the financial instutution for investment.
The total amount of US$ 7.2 Million Dollars was lodged into a Financal institution in South Africa by my late father.I decided to contact you as a foreign partner that will assist me transfer this money into your personal or companies account pending my arrival in your company. I have decide to compensate/give you 35% of the total amount for your assistance, which you are going to render in this transaction.You should bear in mind that this business is100% risk free to both parties but should be treate confidential
to avoid any diversion during its process.
I would like you to contact me on my email immediately you receive this
mail Please get back to me through email, so we will discuss the whole
process for the transferring of the money, this will take 7 (Seven) working
days from the day I get your reply.I don't want you to betray the confidence
I have in you although we never met each other before.
Best regards,
John

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