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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: bill zuma <billzuma_113@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 11:28:24 +0100 (BST)
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSALS



FROM: Mr Bill Zuma
DEPT OF AVIATION,JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA.

SIR

PROPOSAL FOR TRANSFER OF EIGHTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDREDTHOUSAND US DOLLARS (US$18.5M)INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

We need your reliability and trustworthiness in this
transaction.I am the FINANCIAL CONTROLLER of the DEPARTMENT
OFAVIATION,JOHANNESBURG,SOUTH AFRICA and Secretary to the Contract Award Committee of my DEPARTMENT.In collaboration with my colleagues, we have agreed to transfer out of the Country through the RESERVE BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA some amount and we
will later reinvest it abroad after the success of this transaction.

The amount involved is Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand US
Dollars (US$18,500,000.00). This is as a result of over inflated amount of a contract. The contract has been already executed and the original
contractor had collected his full and final payment. In as much as this
contract was awarded to a Foreign Contractor and the payment is in dollars, we now need a Foreigner that will present himself as the
contractor for this amount of Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars (US$18,500,000.00) and then the fund will be transferred into your account. Since we do not want to use the orginal contractor in applying for thepayment, because the Contractor is not aware of this over-invoiced sum.

THIS MONEY IS ALREADY COVERED WITH DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION CONTRACT NUMBER AND COMPLETE COMPLETION NUMBER AND WHICH MAKES IT EASIER FOR US TO EFFECT THIS TRANSFER.

Therefore, I as the Financial Controller was told to write you by my
colleagues and see to the success of the remittance immediately,you
will however, be required to furnish us with these
necessary information.
1. Your secure phone and fax numbers for easy communication
2. Name and Address of Bank, Phone, Fax and Telex numbers
3. Account number where this money will be trasfered into,
It could be new personal or corporate account set up for this purpose.
4. The beneficiary name, company or personal name.

These information will enable us put APPLICATION OF CLAIM for the
release of this money from concerned Government Agencies and it will
last for ten working days. For your assistance we have agreed that the
funds will be shared as follows: You as the Account provider 20%
Miscellaneous Expenses 10% Officials Involved 70%
We assure you that all arrangements have been concluded for the success of this transaction, so if you are interested do reply me.
Yours faithfully,

Mr Bill Zuma




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