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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: john lekota <johnlekota_22@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:45:03 -0500
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?FAMILY_ASSISTANCE_/_INVESTMENT.=FE?=



Dear Sir/Madam, You may be surprise to receive this letter from me since you don't know me personally but please take this mail into consideration as me and my family really needs your assistance and we contacted you with good intentions. I am John Lekota, the son of Dr. Febian Lekota 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 reputable person to handle a very confidential transaction which involves a transfer of fund to a foreign account and I decided to write you, my late father was amongst 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 white minority. Before his death, he had taken to Johannesburg - South Africa to deposit the sum of US$ 18 Million (Eighteen Million United States Dollars) with a Security Company which I will inform you in due cour
se as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. The money was deposited in a box as "Valuables" to avoid much demurrage from the Security Company. This money was embarked from the purchase of new machinery and chemical for farms and the establishment of new farms in Lesotho and 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 who vehemently condemned the "modus operandi" adopted by the Government. This resulted to rampant killing and mob action by the war veterans and some political thugs. Precisely, more than Eighty-one (81) people have so far been killed. Heads of governments from the west, especially Britain and United States of America have voiced their condemnation of Mugabe's plan. Subsequently, South African development Community (S.A.D.C) has continuously supported Mugabe's new land act, it is against this background that I and my family who are currently residing in South Africa have decided
to transfer my Father's 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 the knowledge of my government who are tactically freezing our family wealth and South Africa Government seems to be playing along with them. I am faced with the dilemma of investing this money in South Africa for fear of encountering the same experience in future since both countries have almost the same political history. More so, the South African Foreign Exchange policy does not allow such investment hence we are seeking for "Asylum". As a business person whom I am about to entrust my future and that of my family into his/her 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 25% of the total sum, 70% for me and my family while 5% will be mapped out for any expenses we may incur durin
g the course of this transaction. We wish to invest our part of the money on commercial property based on your advice. Most importantly, I and my family desire the following from you immediately we conclude this transaction: (i) To assist me continue my education (ii) To assist us get a nice and comfortable house in your country where we shall stay when we arrive (iii) To assist us with the immigration process of residing in your country Finally, all we demand from you is assurance that you will not sit on this money when it finally gets to your personal or company's account in your country. If this proposal is acceptable by you, please confirm your interest by replying immediately through this email address johnlekota41@gmail.comYou can view the websites below for more understanding regarding what has been happening in my country Zimbabwe. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm John Lekota (+2
7-73-716-8362)
_________________________________________________________________
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