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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: "Marcus Botha" <engr_botha@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: engr_sullivan1@login.cz
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 11:47:23 +0000
Subject: From Mr. Botha

URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL
Engineer Marcus Botha
Shell Petroleum South Africa.
E-mail: engr_sullivan1@login.cz,engr_ibe1@latinmail.com
Attn: MANAGING DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT/CEO
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Engineer Marcus Botha, a Director of the Contracts Award and review
Department with the
Shell petroleum South Africa. I am contacting you on the business of
transferring the sum of
US$20,500,000.00.(Twenty Million, five Hundred thousand United States
Dollars only) into a safe
foreign account and the need is very urgent. I got your contact from the
South-Africa Chambers of
Commerce and it is with business trust that made me to contact you on this
matter.I write to
solicit for the transfer of this money into your account. This Money was
generated from an over
Invoiced contract sum in my corporation.I am contacting you for your help
and partnership for the
following two reasons:
(1) As a civil servant, I am not permitted to own foreign accounts due to
civil service code of
conduct.
(2) My present financial resources as a civil servant will not be sufficient
for me to handle the
transfer alone successfully without financial assistance from a reliable
foreign partner abroad
like you. 20% of this sum would be for you as compensation for using your
Bank account in
transferring this money, 5% would be used to re-imburse the expenses made by
both parties during
the processing of the transfer which includes, telephone bills, aveling
expenses and fees. While
75% is for me. Please note that I will arrange to meet with you immediately
after the successful conclusion of the transfer, the 75% share of mine will
be used for investment overseas. Your assistance and co-operation is highly
needed. I assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free. If you are
interested I will require your banking information as mentioned below:
1. Name to be used as beneficiary and beneficiary address.
2. Your private and confidential telephone/ fax number(s)and Cell phone.
3. Your bank name and address, your bank Telephone and fax number(s).
I hope to conclude this business within the next fourteen- (14) working
days.Looking forward to
your anticipated and urgent positive response via e-mail. at:
engr_sullivan1@login.cz, engr_ibe1@latinmail.com
Best regards,
Marcus Botha


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