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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: "mark thulani" <markthulani001@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 06:58:30 +0000
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS TRANSACTION

From: Mr.Thulani Gcabashe
Director Standard Bank South Africa
Email : markthulani000@yahoo.com
 
ATTN: PRESIDENT/CEO
 
Compliments of day to you, obviously this message might come as a surprise to you, but please consider it as a high priority issue, which will definitely change our destiny in God’s mighty name. I am Mr.Thulani Gcabashe , one of the Directors of the Standard Bank Of South Africa.
 
There is a Draft Account opened in this bank in 1988 by a long-time client Mr. David Stevens, who was a foreigner and is one of the richest farmers in Zimbabwe. Mr. David Stevens was among the first white farmer killed in a tense standoff between landowners and squatters backed by President Robert Mugabe 's ruling party in Zimbabwe. Before he passed away in 2000 he has in our Bank the sum of us$20.5 million (Twnety Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). I became aware of every detail of this money and account detail during our last meetings when the report was made to me by one of the Auditors. As a matter of fact the amount in this account is currently us$20.5 million (Twnety Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) waiting to be approved for immediate payment by the bank to any foreign account holder with accurate details concerning this account, In other words No withdrawal or deposit has been made since the last date of the deposit of money into this account.
 
I am contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be approved for payment into any local account, but can only be approved to a foreign account because it was insured and there is a clause in the depository agreement by the Bank and Mr. David Stevens which states that on No condition can any local withdrawals be made from this account unless the money is transfer into anoverseas foreign account, In effect withdrawals can be made only when the money has transferred from the vaults of the bank to a foreign bank account.
 
If you are willing and capable of handling such amount in strict confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefits, because this opportunity will never come my way again I will use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer of this money into your nominated overseas bank account with the appropriate clearance certificate from the Ministries and Foreign Exchange departments. I will physically be in your country for sharing as soon as you confirm the money into your overseas bank account, but agreement will be signed by both parties concerning the sharing modalities and investment projects to avoid misunderstandings.
Finally, you should reply urgently furnishing me with your private telephone and fax number.

Thanks and God Bless
Best Regards,
Mr.Thulani Gcabashe
(Director Standard Bank of South Africa).
N:B contact me with this email : markthulani000@yahoo.com


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