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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: "craffordfisher@aim.com" <craffordfisher@aim.com>
Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 00:29:31 -0200
Subject: ADVANTAGE OF TRUST

Dear FRIEND,

This letter might come to you as a surprise; however, there is no need to
worry, as we are using the only secured and confidential medium available
to
seek for foreign assistance/partnership in a business deal. What is more
important is that the mentioned transaction will prove to be of mutual
benefit to both parties involved. My name is Frank Ugobome (Prof.) a member

of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) of South Africa
and Bostswana www.ppadb.co.bw , We are vested with the authority to
appraise
and approve contracts according to the priority of the Botswana Government
and South Africa Governmnet.

I offer you a further explanation of the business deal: - A foreign
engineer, Mr. Harold Gunter (AN AMERICAN), and a Gold Merchant contractor
with the Government of South Africa, until his death years ago in a ghastly

Plane crash, has executed a project, valued at $8.5 million (Eight and a
half million U.S. dollars). The project has since been implemented and
commissioned, and the contractual sum and all entitlement have been approve

for payment to Mr. Harold Gunter before his sudden death. The Public
Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) unquestionably expects this
sum
to be claimed by any of the late Contractor (Harold Gunter) available
foreign next of kin, or alternatively return to the funds to the Government

treasury as unclaimed funds.

Http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

All efforts have been made by (PPADB) to contact any of the late Mr. Harold
Gunter family members or, indeed, the relatives, but these have proved
unsuccessful. Since there exists a likeable possibility that we will not be

able to locate any of the deceased next of kin (since late Mr. Harold
Gunter died
with both his wife and known kids), our committee lead by the Executive
chairman, Mr. A.Lionjanga have decided to declare the fund ‘Un-claimable’,
and arranged for the money to be subsequently placed in the Government
treasury.

In order to avert such negative development, myself and my colleague in the

committee, are now seeking your permission to have you stand as late, Mr.
Harold Gunter next of kin or Business Partner, so that the fund of
$8.5million US dollars could be subsequently transferred and paid into your

bank account as the beneficiary next of kin or appointed beneficiary.

All necessary documents and required proves are to be provided and
authenticated by us, as soon as you decide to enter the transaction and
your
share (%) will be discussed. Though we are trying to make a better future
for ourselves and our families, considering the poor standard of living in
Africa , we also wish for you to see the proposal as our own means to
invest
part of the fund in your country.

If you find this proposal acceptable and wish to take advantage of the
trust
we hope to bestow on you and your company, kindly respond to this message,
providing your Full NAMES and ADDRESS, your most confidential telephone and
fax number, to my private email address craffordfisher@aim.com so that I
can
forward to you relevant details of this transaction and also my private
telephone number.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation,

Prof. Crafford Fisher


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