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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "jerry smith" <jerrysmith_0109@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: jerrysmith_2056@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:56:03 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

FROM:MRJERRY SMITH
ATTN: DIRECTOR/C.E.O.
Dear Sir/Madam

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me
personally, the purpose of my introduction is that, I am Mr.jerry smith the
first son of Dr.kinsley Smith who was recently murdered in the land dispute
in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through network online hence decided to
write you.

Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg South Africa
to deposit the sum of US$18.5Million (EIGHTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) in one of the private security company, as
if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe.This money was deposited in a
box as germ stones to avoid much demurrage from Security Company.This amount
was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and
established of new farm in Swaziland.

This land problem came when Zimbabwean President Mr.Robert Mugabe introduce
a new Land Act reform which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some
few blacks farmers.And this resulted to the killing and mob action by
Zimbabwean war veterans and Some lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot of
people were killed because of this land reformed Act for which my father was
one of the victim.

It is against this background that, I and my family who are currently
staying in South Africa decided to transfer my fathers money to foreign
account since the law of South Africa prohibit a refugee (asylum seeker) to
open any bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction
throughout the territorial zone in South Africa. As the eldest son of my
father, I am saddle with the responsibility of seeking a genuine foreign
account where this money could be transferred without the knowledge of my
government who are bent on taking everything we have got. The South African
government seems to be playing along with them. I am faced with the dilemma
of investing this amount of money in South Africa for fear of going through
the same experience in future since both countries have similar political
history. Moreover, the South African Foreign Exchange policy does not allow
such investment for an asylum seeker.

As a businessman, who I have to entrust my future and that of my family in
his hands, I must let you know that this transaction is risk free. If you
accept to assist me and my family all I want you to do for me is to make
arrangements and agree with me that you can travel to any part of the
country in the world where the fund will be transfered and withdraw the
money.
And we are going to open a non-resident transfer account which will aid us
in transferring the money into any account you will nominate overseas. This
money I intend to use it for investment.

I have two options for you, firstly you can choose to have certain
percentage of the money for nominating your account for this transaction or
you can go into partnership with me for the proper profitable investment of
the money in your country.

Whichever the options you want, feel free to notify me because I have also
mapped out 5% of this money for all kinds of expenses that might be incurred
in the process of this transaction. If you do not prefer a partnership I am
willing to give you 30% of the money while the remaining 65% will be for me
and my family investment in your country.

Reply me immediatly while I implore you to maintain the absolute secrecy
required in this transaction, Looking forward for your favourable
reply.Regards to you and your family.
Yours Faithfully,
MR JERRY SMITH

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam