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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: zola rebecca mandela <zolamandela@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: zolamandela0@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2017 21:17:22 +0530
Subject: Urgent

Hello Dear,

Thanks for your attention and I pray that my decision to contact you
will be given genuine approval. I humbly write to solicit for your
partnership and assistance in the transfer and investment of my
inheritance funds from my late adopted father who died after a long
battle with illness on the 5th of December 2013.

I am Miss Rebecca Zola Mandela adopted daughter to Late former
president Nelson Mandela, Republic of South Africa. I am 18 yrs. old.
I was told that my mother died after my birth and no trace of my
biological father. Late Ntate Mandela adopted me as part of his family
till death.

I saw your contact on the internet and after much prayers, I was moved
to contact you believing that you can be relied upon to handle this
business for me. I have a reasonable amount of money to be transferred
on my behalf to you. I am convinced you would be of great help in
assisting me to move and invest the sum of USD10.5 million which my
late father stashed away and deposited it with the bank. Due to family
fights, acceptance into the family and struggle for his legacies, I
had the plans to transfer the money and have it invested on your care
and guide and pursue my education and career elsewhere.

Please bear in mind that this is not jokes or games people choose to
play on the internet. No. My solicitation is for real and my
intentions are genuine. This is the only hope left for me to continue
a new life and I believe that you will understand my situation. I
humbly request that you do not blackmail my position. I will give you
more information and my photos as soon as I hear from you. I have
decided to offer you 20% of the total amount of money as a
compensation for your efforts and troubles which is for your honest
and sincere assistance to me, and then we agree on handling and
controlling the investment while I continue my education.

If I could have your attention, I would avail you with further details
of my person, situations and how we can handle this.
Best Regards,

Miss Rebecca Zola. Mandela


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