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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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Fraud email example:

From: "johnson khumalo" <johnson_khumalo25@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 07:40:23 +0000
Subject: Urgent assistance

Mr Johnson Khumalo
First Rand Bank Of South Africa





Dear Sir,

I am Mr Johnson Khumalo, Auditor General of First Rand Bank Of South
Africa.This is an urgent and very confidential business transaction.

On June 6, 2000,a Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the South African
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy,Mr.Willam Mitchell made a numbered
time(Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$7.2m(Seven
Million, Two hundred thousand Dollars).

Upon maturity,I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but
got no reply. After a month,we sent a reminder and finally we discovered
from his contract employers, that Mr.Willam Mitchell died from an automobile
accident.On further investigation,I found out that he died without making a
WILL,and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr.Willam
Mitchell did not declare any kin or relations in all his official
documents,including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.
No one will ever come forward to claim it.According to South African Law,at
the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of
the Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in
as the owner of the money which was fixed deposited in my bank. I am writing
you because I as a public servant,i cannot operate a foreign account.

I want to present you as the owner of the funds so you can be able to claim
them with the help of my attorney. This is simple.I will like you to provide
immediately your full names and address so that the Attorney will prepare
the necessary documents which will put you in place as the beneficiary of
the funds.

The money will be moved out for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me and
30% for you and The paperwork for this transaction will be done by the
Attorney.If you are interested, please reply immediately via my email
address and Upon your response,I shall then provide you with more details
and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.Please
observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction
would be most profitable for both of
us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in real estate
within your country.

Due to the nature of confidentiality in this Transaction our communication
can only be via email and fax mostly.

Awaiting your urgent reply via my email Above.

Johnson Khumalo

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam