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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: "Johnson Douglas" <dougfarms1977@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:17:59 -0700
Subject: From: Mr. Johnson Douglas


From: Mr. Johnson Douglas
Contact Phone: +2781550357

You may be surprised to received this letter from me because you don't know
me in person, I am Mr. Johnson Douglas, the only son of late Mr. Desmond
Douglas, who was murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe, I was furnished
of your profile from the International Trade Center here in Johannesburg
South Africa and I decided to contact you for assistance.

Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg South Africa,
where he made a deposit of a consignment containing a total sum of
US$15,000,000 (FIFTEEN MILLION US DOLLARS), in a private security and
Finance company, as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe . This
amount was meant for the purchase of chemicals and tractors for the
development of our new farms in Swaziland , Namibia the Neighboring country
to Zimbabwe .

My family and I who are currently residing in South Africa as political
asylum seekers decided to transfer our fathers money to any foreign account
since the South African law prohibits refugees (asylum seekers) to operate
any type of bank account or to be involved in any huge financial
transaction.

As the eldest child of my father, I am seeking for a genuine foreign partner
who can help us transfer this money in to his or her oversea account. We are
therefore faced with the intention of investing this money in your country
for good investment as a businessman whom I will entrust my future and that
of my entire family in his or her hands, I must let you know that this
business is completely 100% risk-free, as we cannot accept to venture into
any dangerous deal with our fortune.

If you therefore accept to assist us, I will be glad you indicate your
interest soon as possible for further details

Please I will appreciate you keep this transaction highly confidential for
my safety and for the interest of this transaction. Note all arrangements
have been made to conclude this transaction soon as you show your interest.
For your kind assistance

I have mapped out 20% for you and 60% for my family and I, while 10% will be
set aside for any expenses that might incur during the cost of the
transaction. Please should this meet your outmost consideration; please send
your response with your direct number in our family joint e-mail account so
that my step mother and sisters will understand your willingness and ability
to assist us (dougfarms@sify.com )
Yours truly,
Mr. Johnson Douglas
(For the family)

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