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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: "From: Petrus Valentine Ngobeni" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patrusvalentinengobeni@gala.net>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:23:27 -0700
Subject: From: Petrus Valentine Ngobeni

From: Petrus Valentine Ngobeni
My Direct Phone+27 732 496 910
Reply to patrusvalentinengobeni@gala.net
 
Dear Sir/Madam,
With Due Honour and respect, I introduce myself to you for a better
Relationship. I am Mr. Petrus Valentine Ngobeni, CHIEF AUDITOR IN ONE OF THE BIGEST BANKS HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA. Your contact is courtesy of Business online network via Internet as I decided to contact you for this beneficial transaction that is 100% risk free. During auditing, verifications/investigations in our bank at the end of last Fiscal (financial) year, I discovered the sum of (US$18 M} EIGHTEEN  MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS in a dormant account belonging to MR ALLAN P SEAMAN, a German international businessman who died along with his family in the
November 5th, 2001 plane crash in Abidjan West Africa. Our investigations revealed no survival or NEXT OF KIN for claims as we have long been expecting someone to forward applications for claims as it applies to our banking regulations. Information / verifications from reliable sources confirmed that his supposed “NEXT OF KIN” died with him in the crash. Hence this for your perusals. However,
I kept this information (SECRET) confidential within my jurisdiction To enable us submit claims and transfer this fund through trustworthy person
Whom we shall present to our bank as the BONAFIDE “NEXT OF KIN” to the Deceased. We intend to credit this fund into any of your nominated (designated) offshore Bank account for investments. Meanwhile, all domestic arrangements for claims have been put in place awaiting your acceptance to participate. I will give you directives and all needed information as soon as I receive your positive response. Kindly understand that we could not carry out this on our own as based on the simple facts that we are civil servants and secluded from operating foreign account and too, it will raise eyebrows on our side in terms of transfer being staff of the bank. Moreover, this fund belongs to a foreigner and demands same as next of kin to claim it. Hence your contact for   successful Operation. My colleagues and I has resolved to offer you 30% of the total sum as commission, we will invest 75% of our share in your country provided it is profit oriented. 5% of the total ! fund will be set aside to re-embur
Following for my consideration:
 
1. Can your account accommodate this fund in your local bank without government?
Intervention or do you have an account outside your country where you may
Consider safe for this fund?
 
2. What is taxation in your country like as I desire a low/free tax zone?
 
3. What are the interest rates on long/short term fixed deposit in your local?
Banks?
 
4. What other lucrative investments would you suggest as I intend banking, Real estate and hotels if they are good business venture in your
Country?
 
5. Can you be able to make residential documents and purchase a house for me?
And my family to relocate and settle in your country after the transaction?
 
Kindly indicate your private telephone and fax number for more efficient
Communication.
 
Reply to:patrusvalentinengobeni@gala.net 
 
Looking forward to your anticipated urgent response. So I can give you a call
 
Best regards,
Petrus Valentine Ngobeni.
 

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