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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Ubi Savimbi" <ubisavimbi24@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 14:49:19 +0000
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED FROM YOU.

DEAR SIR,

IT IS A PLEASURE TO CONTACT YOU AT THIS IMPORTANT TIME FOR A POSSIBLE
BUSINESS TRANSACTION. HOWEVER, I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH A SEARCH ON THE
INTERNET WEBSITE AND YOUR PROFILE GOT ME CONVINCED OF YOUR WIDE IN BUSINESS.

I AM MR.UBI SAVIMBI, A FAMILY BROTHER TO THE LATE GENERAL JONAS SAVIMBI,
LEADER OF THE ANGOLAN UNITA REBEL WHO WAS SHOT DEAD ON MONDAY 25TH FEBUARY
2002 BY THE OPPOSING FORCES OF ANGOLAN ARMY. FOR THE PAST YEARS NOW OUR
COUNTRY HAVE BEEN IN POLITICAL CRISIS AND CONFLITS BETWWEN THE UNITA REBEL
AND GOVERMENT ALLIED FORCES. AS A MATTER OF FACT,BEFORE THE DEATH OF GENERAL
JONAS SAVIMBI, I WAS GIVEN US$29.8MILLION DOLLARS,45,550 CARAT DIAMOND AND
5400 POUNCE GOLD FOR THE PURCHASING OF FIRE ARMS AND ARMUNATIONS FROM RUSSIA
AND A MINI LAFEYETTE FRIGATE FROM UKRAIN. I CONSIDERED IT A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY AS HE IS NOW LATE CONSPHICATED THE PACKAGE AND DIVERTED IT TO
LOME-TOGO IN WEST AFRICAN NATION, WHERE IT HAS BEEN DEPOSITED IN A SECURITY
COMPANY ON A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT AS A TREASURE. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS
WEB PAGE FOR IT SAYS IT ALL.

(http://www.the-idler.com/IDLER-02/316.html)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_1839000/1839252.stm

THEREFORE, MY AIM OF CONTACTING YOU IS FOR YOU TO ASSIST ME WITH YOUR
PERSONALITY AND INFLUENCE TO TRANSFER AND SECURE THE SAID TREASURE OVER TO
YOUR COUNTRY, INTO YOUR POSSESSION. I HAVE THE AMBITION OF INVESTING THIS
MONEY AND AS WELL KEEPING A LONG LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.

PRESENTLY, I AM IN LOME CAPITAL CITY OF TOGO WEST AFRICA WHERE I HAVE BEEN
IN HIDE-OUT SINCE THE PAST THREE WEEKS I WAS SENT ON THIS ASSIGNMENT BEFORE
HIS DEATH. I WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO YOU THAT TIME IS NOT MY FRIEND AS I AM
ANXIOUSLY LOOKING FORWARD FOR A RESPONSIBLE, RELIABLE AND HONEST PERSON TO
ACT AS MY CLIENT OR BENEFICIARY SO THAT I WILL TRANSFER THIS TREASURE OUT OF
AFRICA BECAUSE I AM NOT SAFE HERE IN AFRICA.
SIR, IF YOU CAN SINCERELY ASSIST ME TOWARDS MY PROPOSAL, WITH ALL YOUR
TRUST, WE SHALL DISCUSS ABOUT YOUR PERCENTAGE SHARE FIRST AS SOON AS I
RECEIVE YOUR URGENT AND POSITIVE REPLY.

PLEASE KINDLY, HANDLE THIS PROPOSAL WITH YOUR UTMOST SECRECY AND
CONFIDENTIAL AS ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVES AS REGARDS TO THIS
TREASURE WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU ON YOUR REQUEST. HOPING THAT OUR
TRANSACTION WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH EVERY CONFIDENTIALITY.

THANK AND GOD BLESS YOU.
MR.UBI SAVIMBI.

_________________________________________________________________
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