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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: "Mrs. Margreth Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsmargretjohnson@dailycarnage.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:59:11 -0700
Subject: Please Help Us

Dear Friend,

My name is Mrs. Margret Johnson, a widow, I am a citizen of Zimbabwe, but I am presently living in South Africa with my son Eric Johnson as a refugee, my late husband Mr. Peter Johnson, was murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe some years
ago.

I inherited the sum of US$10Million (Ten Million united states Dollars), from my late husband, which he deposited in a private security Company before he died.
This money was in a trunk box as a family treasure and was deposited as Consignment to avoid much demurrage from the Security Company.

My husband was a wealthy farmer, this money he wanted to use for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and to establish a new farm in Swaziland, a neighbouring country.

This land problem started five years ago when Zimbabwean President Mr. Robert Mugabe introduced a new Land Act reform, which affected the rich white farmers and some few black farmers. And this resulted to the killing and mob action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society. In fact, lot of people has been killed because of this land reformed Act for which my husband was one of the victim.

It is based on this situation that I and my only son John, have to run to South Africa where we are presently living as refugees (asylum seeker) because our lives are also at risk in Zimbabwe.

The law of South Africa prohibits a refugee to operate a bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction throughout the territorial zone South Africa. So a friend of my late husband who is a banker in South Africa advised me to look for a trusted foreigner who can assist me and get the money transferred to his overseas account for the benefit of my son and me.

This is why I am contacting you to please assist me and get this money over to your country so I can come over with my son to live and invest in your country, We are willing to give you commission of 30% for your help and
assistance.

If you will be willing and sincere to help me, please contact me on this
email address: margretjohnson@live.co.za
I expect your positive response.

Best regards and God bless,
Mrs. Margret Johnson/Eric Johnson
+27-73-1799-279 [my son]

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