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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: fred2002@webmail.co.za
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 11:10:35 -0800
Subject: PARTNERSHIP

FROM: Mr. Fred Nkosi
TEL: 27 835 092 923.
FAX: 27115076986
Email:fred2002@webmail.co.za

Dear Sir,
In order to transfer out (US$15 Million) FifteenMillion United States Dollars from First National Bank
(FNB).I have picked up the trust and courage to writeyou this letter with divine confidence that you are areliable and honest Person who will be capable for this important business transaction
believing also that you will never let me down eithernow or in the future.

My name is Mr. Fred Nkosi a senior Auditing Officer with the FNB in South Africa There is an account
opened in this bank in 1995 and since 1996 nobody has operated on this account again. After going
through some old files in the records, I discoveredthat if I do not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited to the government.

The owner of this account died since 1996. No other person knows about this account or any thing
concerning it, the account has no other beneficiaryand my investigation proved to me as well that thiscompany does not know anything about this account and the amount involved is (US$15 million) Fifteen million United States Dollars.

I want to transfer this sum of Fifteen million United States Dollars into a safe foreign account abroad. I am contacting you based on the fact that you are aforeigner because this money can only be approved forpayment to a foreigner, more so it can not be approved by any local bank here, as this money is in US Dollars hence the former owner of this account is a foreigner too. I know that this proposal will come to you as a surprise as we don't know ourselves before. However I got your contact from a trade consultant here in South Africa though I did not disclose the purpose of my seeking for a foreign business partner to him.

I have involved a very senior official in the Operational department and we have agreed that after
the transfer of the money into your account, you shall be entitled to 30% of the total sum. We the
officials will take 60% while 10% is for expenses. All necessary precautions have been taken to
ensure 100% risk free situation on the side of both parties.

Please note that this deal can only take place on the following conditions:-

1. You will provide the bank account and other relevant Particulars/information for easy and
onward Remittance of this money.

2. Absolute confidentiality and sincerity will be required and guaranteed, considering our (me and my
partners) positions in the bank.

All things being equal, this transaction will be within 10 working days as soon as we hear from you.
Please treat with utmost confidentiality.Contact me as quickly as possible through my fax No:
27115076986, or above telephone number.

Regards,

Mr. Fred Nkosi.

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