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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: tony kolonga kusi <tony_kolonga013@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: <tony_kolonga001@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 16:28:43 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP



Dear Friend I know you may be surprised to receive this letter from mesince you dont know me personally. I am Mr.TONY KOLONGA, the son of Dr. Simon KUSI,who was recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through Network on line in my search for a reliable and reputableperson to handle a very confidential transaction that involves a transfer of a fund to a foreign account and I decided to write to you. My late father was among the few black Zimbabwean rich farmers murdered in cold blood by the agents of the ruling government of President Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabwean opposition party controlled by the entire minority. Before My father's death, he had travelled to Lome Togo, to deposit the sum of US$5 MILLION (Five million United States Dollars) with a bank here in Lome as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was Budgeted for the purchase of new machineries and chemicals for farms and the establishment of new farms in Lesotho, Swaziland. This land problem arose when President Robert Mugabe introduced a new land act that wholly affected the rich white farmers, and some few blacks vehemently condemned the "Modus Operandi"adopted by the government. This resulted to an indiscriminate killing and mob action by the war veterans and some political thugs. Precisely, more than thirty one (31) people have so far been killed.Heads of government from west, especially Britain and the United States of America have voiced their condemnation of Mugabe's plan. Subsequently, The Togo Development Community(TDC)have continually supported the Mugabe's new land act, it is against this background that I and my family who are currently residing in Lome the capital city of Togo have decided to transfer my fathers money into a foreign account. As the eldest son of my father, I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred without theknowledge of my government who are tactically freezing our family wealth and Togo government seems to be playing along with them. I am faced with the Confusion of investing this money in Togo for fear of encountering the same experience in future since both countries have almost the same political history. Moreso, theTogo foreign exchange policy does not allow such investment hence we are seeking for an asylum. As a business person whom I entrusted my future and that of my family into his hands, I must let you know that this transaction is 100% risk free and the nature of your business does not necessarily matter.For your assistance, we are offering you 35% of the total sum, 60% for my family and while 5% will be mapped out for any expenses we may incure during the course of this transaction. We wish to invest our part of this money on commercial property based on your advice.Finally, all we need from you is assurance that you will not sit on this money when it finally gets into your personal or company's account in your country. If this proposal is acceptable by you, please confirm your interest . Best regards,
Mr.T. KOLONGA. KUSI
_________________________________________________________________
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