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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: "JAMES MULUTU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamesmulutu111@w.cn>
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:44:17 -0700
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT HELP NEEDED

Dear Friend,
Good day.
I hope you will not min me writing to you but a letter like this is the
most confidential and effective way to contact you. My name is Mr James
Mulutu, son of Mr Peter Mulutu of Zimbabwe . This might be a surprise to
you where I got your contact address; My Mother got your mailing address
from Republic Of Benin Information Exchange in Cotonou she was looking for
a reliable and trustworthy person who will help us in this transaction.
During the war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supporters of our
President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white-owned farms to his party
members and his followers, he ordered all the white-owned farmers to
surrender all their farms to his party members and his followers. My Late
Father Mr. Peter Mulutu was a very rich Zimbabwean farmer who was
murdered in his farm by the War veterans who took over his farm due to his
support for the Matabeleland Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC ). The
MDC is the main opposition party in my country Zimbabwe kicking against
the wicked acts of Mr. Robert Mugabe, the incumbent President against the
White farmers. As you may be aware, President Robert Mugabe introduced new
land reforms, which was particularly not favorable for the rich white
farmers and few black farmers (my Father inclusive).
After the death of my father, my mother, I and my younger sister fled to
Benin Republic of Cotonou,because we were secretly informed of his plans
to kill us. Later my mother Mrs. Sarah Mulutu was diagnosed with breast
cancer. We moved out from Zimbabwe with the documents of my fathers funds
kept in a security company in Abroad,the amount contained in the safe is
US$18.5m ( Eighteen Million five hundred thousand,US dollars).
He deposited the money in a Security Company as valuables which he intend
to use in abroad, for safe-keeping, banking and investment, because of
economic instability in Africa.So we decided to contact overseas
Individual that will help to assist us to invest this money and also help
us to move out of Benin Republic of Cotonou ,because we are asylum
seekers here in Benin Republic which disqualifies us from operating an
account or getting involved in any financial transaction here in Benin
Republic of Cotonou . We have agreed to give you from the total sum 40%
for helping us to invest this money to your country while 60% will be for
my family to invest in your country.
If you are interested in helping us, kindly furnish me with your personal
phone numbers for easy communication. You can contact me on our family
Email address:jamesmulutu111@w.cn
Note that this transaction is 100% risk-free and it requires mutual trust
and absolute
confidentiality and I have taken care of all formalities regarding it.
Note: what mathers is the truth, honesty,trustworthy, because this is all
our life now as we are surffereing here without help.
Your urgent response will be highly appreciated in this regard.
Best regards,
James Mulutu (For the family).
jamesmulutu111@w.cn

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