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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.EDWIN MICJOHNSON" (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:34:36 +0200
Subject: PLEA FOR YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE.

FROM:EDWIN MIC JOHNSON
ABSA Bank Absa Building,
C/o Pretorius and Van der Walt Streets,
P.O. Box 3915 Pretoria 0001
Tel: +27 731902028 (PRIVATE)
Attn: President / C.E.O.,

STRICTLY PRIVATE & NEEDS URGENT RESPONSE PLEASE.


This Letter Was First Sent To You Via Post Mail Two Months Ago, But Uptill Now, I Have Not Heard From You. Based On This, I Decided To Reach You Through This Means. I Know For Security Reasons, This Is Not The Safest Means To Reach You, But Was Left With No Other Viable Option Since There Is A Pressing Need To Reach You. I am Quite Sure That This Mail Will Surprise You Since I Have Not Been Having Previous Correspondences With You.

My Name Ism Mr.Edwin Mic Johnson.The Head on Audit with The Almagamated Bank Of South Africa (ABSA). I Have A Good Business Proposition For You And By The Special Grace Of God Will Be Beneficial To You. Firstly Before I Proceed, I Have To Assure You That This Mail Is Neither Junk, Illusion Nor Mere Imagination, But Practically Achievable If Given Maximum Support And Co-operation. In June 2004, Mr. Paul Anderson An American Civil Engineer With The Southern African Institute Of Steel Construction, (Saisco) Deposited The Sum Of $27million Us Dollars With Our Bank On A Three Year Fixed Deposit Basis. With His Son Mr Greg Anderson Registered As The Next Of Kin / Beneficiary To The Account. After The Three Years Expired, Mr. Paul Anderson Was Not Seen Nor Heard From Even The Son Who Is The Beneficiary, Nothing Was Heard From them. Since Then It Has Been Rolling Over and over.

I Have Sent Mails, Faxes To His Numbers And Addresses Given Still No Response. I Was Forced To Contact The (Saisco) He Has Been Working With But Was Surprised To Hear That He And The Son Died In An Auto Crash Just A Year After He Deposited The Money With Us. May His Soul Rest In Peace. The South African Law Prescribes That, In Cases Like This, The Money Should Be Returned To The Government Account.

I Am Seriously Against Returning This Old Mans Sweat To The Govt. Account, Because One Of The Officials Will Steal This Money From The Govt Account, So I have Decided To Divert This Money To My Own Private Use. Already I Have Used My Good Contact To Withdraw This Money & transfer it to South African Reserve Bank for smooth and successful transfer of the fund. I Am Writing to You To Assist Me In Safekeeping Of This Money As Well As For Investment Purposes.

You Are To Take 40% Of The Total Sum For Your Assistance, 5% to take care of all the expenses incurred during this transaction, while The Remaining Will Be For my Investment in your Country. On Receipt Of Your Acceptance Letter, And A Mutual Agreement Is Reached Between Us, I Will Send To You All The Vital Documents Relevant To This Transaction To Enable You Claim The Money. Anticipating Your Urgent And Favourable Response To This profitable Business Proposition. Please I am counting on you.

I am looking forward to hearing urgent and positive response from you.

Do kindly fill-in the form and get back to me for filling purposes


(1) Full Name:

(2) Postal Address:

(3 Telephone and Fax Number:

(4) Occupation:

(5) Date of Birth:

Sincerely Yours -in-hope,

Mr.EDWIN MICJOHNSON
Tel: +27 731902028.PLEASE YOU CAN ALSO REPLY ME ON THIS DIRECT PRIVATE

Anti-fraud resources: