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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: "Mr.Christian Zack" <christzk2010@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: christian@gala.net
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2010 09:23:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: SOLICITING FOR ASSISTANCE

FROM: CHRISTIAN ZACK
105 SOUTH RAND STREET,
GAUTENG PROVINCE,
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTHAFRICA
Email;christian@gala.net
Tel; +277838861444
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
I know you will be surprised to read from me, but please consider this letter, as a request from a family in desire need of your assistance. Firstly, I must introduce my self; I am MR. Christian Zack, from ZIMBABWE; I am the first and the only son of MR. ZACK Gabriel. I am presently residing in South Africa, I got your contact from the South-African Information exchange (S.A.I.E) in Johannesburg and on behalf of my mother who is a widow Mrs. Angela Zack I decided to solicit for your assistance to transfer the sum of $ 27.500 USD (TWENTY SEVEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) In your personal or company account. Before my father's death he was among the few black Zimbabwean rich farmers and he was poisoned by the agents of the ruling government of President Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabweans opposition party controlled by the white minority. Before his death he had taken me to Johannesburg to
deposit this money to a security and finance company. This money was deposited in a box as a gemstone to avoid much demurrage from the security company. This money was earmarked for purchase of new Machine and chemical for the farms and to establish new farms in Lesotho and the Swaziland. In this will he specially drew my attention to this sum of US $ 27.5(TWENTY SEVEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) that he deposited in a safe box in a private security and Finance Company here in Johannesburg, South Africa.

IN FACT MY FATHER SAID IN HIS WILL AND QUOTE: MY BELOVED SON, I WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MONEY, WHICH I DEPOSITED IN YOUR NAME IN A BOX WITH A SECURITY AND FINANCE COMPANY JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA. IN CASE OF MY ABSENCE ON EARTH CAUSED BY DEATH, YOU SHOULD SOLICIT FOR A RELIABLE FOREIGN PARTNER TO ASSIST YOU TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE.

From the above, you will understand that the life and future of my family depends on this money. I will be Very grateful if you can assist us. We are now living in South Africa, as Asylum Seekers and financial laws of South Africa do not allow Asylum seekers certain right to such huge amount of money. In view of this, I cannot invest this money in South Africa; hence I am asking you to assist me to transfer this money out of South Africa for an investment. For your effort I am prepared to offer you 30% of the total fund, while 10% will be set aside for local and international expenses and 60% will be kept for my family and me. Finally, modalities on how the transfer will be done and conveyed to you once we establish trust and confidence between ourselves; looking forward to your Reply confidential. Best regards, Here is my direct private email address christian@gala.net

MR CHRISTIAN ZACK FOR THE FAMILY

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