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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "Mandiba Darlington" <dmandiba@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2004 01:19:16 +0200
Subject: INVITATION FOR PARTNERSHIP

POSTNET SUITE NO:37
PRIVATE BAG NO:75
BRAAMFONTEIN
2017.
PHONE: 27-83-508-8746
Email:dmandiba@yahoo.com
INVITATION FOR PARTNERSHIP
ATTN: DIRECTOR/CEO
Dear Sir,
With due respect, trust and humility, I write you this proposal, which I believe would be of great interest to you. I find your contact while I was doing a private research on the Internet for a reliable and capable foreign partner that will assist my family and I to transfer fund to his personal or private account for investment purposes. I am Mr. Mandiba Darlington the son of Late Mr. Mandiba Titus, who was the "Chairman" of the Farmer’s Co-operative Association in Zimbabwe (FCAZ).
My Father was among the few blacks that were murdered in cold blood by the President Robert Mugabe Administration during the land dispute that just happened in Zimbabwe. After the death of my Father, we decided to move out of ZIMBABWE because our lives were in danger because of the fear of the government discovering the money that my father kept in his hidden safe in our house. The amount contained in the safe is $34,000,000 (THIRTY FOUR MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS).
This money was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and establishment of new farms in Swaziland. After my fathers death we moved to South Africa and deposited and insured this money in a security company in a box as valuables belonging to our foreign partner pending when we see somebody honest that will assist us transfer this money.
We are presently in South Africa as Refugee (Asylum Seekers) and as such the law of South Africa does not permit us to operate or open any bank account here in South Africa or be involved in any financial transaction with the bank. That is why we are contacting you to assist us in this transaction.

We are ready to give you 30% of the total amount for the inconveniences this will cost you and for accepting to assist us, contact me on the above phone and email address indicating your interest as soon as possible, on receiving your acceptance, I shall be glad to give you more clarification on the modalities needed for smooth successful completion of this transaction.
I anticipate your quick response.
Best regard.
Mr. Mandiba Darlington
(For and On behalf of my family)




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