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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: "Jenny Yau" <jyau@apu.edu>
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 10:15:16 -0700
Subject: PLEASE YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

From: Mrs. Mary Lesedi
132, Bruce Street Santon,
Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel: + 27 78 1649 709
Email: johnlesedi@hotmail.com <mailto:johnlesedi@hotmail.com>

Good Day,
My name is Mrs. Mary Lesedi, the wife to the late Mr. Johnson Lesedi SNR of
Zimbabwe . This might come as a surprise to you about where and how I got your contact address. It was a result of a trusted confident from the South Africa Chamber of commerce and industries in Johannesburg South Africa .

During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe , from the supporters of our president Mr. Robert Mugabe, to claim all the white owned farms to his party members and followers. He ordered all white farmers to surrender all farm to his party members and followers. My Husband was one of the very best farmers in our country and was in partnership with a white Man. Mr. Lawrence Smith from England.He did not support Mr. Mugabe's ideas so his farm was burnt and invaded by Mugabe's supporters. Everything was burnt in which my Husband and his partner were killed during the invasion and they made away with lots of items. Before his death my Husband has deposited with one Security Company in Johannesburg , South Africa . The sum of US$25 Million dollars (Twenty Five Million United States Dollars) this money was meant for the purchase of some farming equipments and materials from a Company here in South Africa .After his death we decided to escape to South Africa . Where he has deposited this sum with the security Company as valuables (in a treasure box).

I decided to contact the foreigner, from outside the shores of Africa or Companies that will assist my family to move the fund from here. Because of our present status as asylum seekers and also because South Africa and Zimbabwe have a bilateral agreement which can lead to the seizure of the fund, if we invest here in South Africa . Secondly our status has made it impossible to invest the fund or deal directly with the South Africa financial institutions. In the cause of moving the fund to any place my family has agreed to offer you 25% of the fund for your assistant, while 75% will be for my to investment in your Company/country. You can read about my country's problems on this site

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/word/africa/715001.stm <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/word/africa/715001.stm>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm>

All I want you to do is to furnish me with your entire details for easy communication (fax and telephone numbers) you can contact me through my son MR. John Lesedi Through the above telephone and email address .Please note that this transaction is 100% risk free and absolute confidentiality is required forthe safety of my family and the fund.Please remember to send you reply to this email address:johnlesedi@hotmail.com

Thanks and God Bless
Best regards
Mrs. Mary Lesedi (For the family).

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