419 scam: "MR SAM THAMBO"<81.136.235.115@meridian-security.co.uk> TEL: +27 78 128 1967

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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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27781281967 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR SAM THAMBO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sam.thambo@info.al>
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2010 22:51:09 -0700
Subject: TEL: +27 78 128 1967

MR SAM THAMBO
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: +27 78 128 1967
EMAIL: sam.thambo@info.al

I am sorry for contacting you through this medium without a previous notice; I had to use email because of the urgency needed in this business. My name is MR SAM THAMBO, ONE OF THE DIRECTOR OF 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, of the republic of South Africa. Probably you are aware that the republic of South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP

The Government of South Africa has committed itself to the investment in infrastructure, logistics, communications and security that will be needed to ensure that Africa's first FIFA World Cup is a resounding success. South Africa's Budget for 2007/08 – was presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel in February 2007. It updates the approach to the World Cup set out in the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement of 2006; which details the Government's investment in 2010.

The Government's total contribution to infrastructure and stadiums stands at R17.4 billion. R9 billion will go towards transport and supporting infrastructure R8,4 billion will pay for building five stadiums and upgrading another five But it's not only World Cup infrastructure projects that will receive funding: the Budget also provides for non-infrastructure projects – such as sports and recreation programmes, arts and culture programmes, policing and emergency medical services. Budgeting for 2010 was guided by a National Treasury funding protocol that prioritized spending that would leave a lasting legacy.

The Government's R17, 4 billion direct investments in the World Cup is part of a much larger spending programme between 2006 and 2010. The South African government is spending around US$60-billion in infrastructure, and run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=118959

We been involved and part of the spending and controlling of all the funds mentioned in this letter as the ONE OF THE DIRECTOR OF 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, i and my secretary was able to secure some money from this projects that we will like to transfer to your account oversea amount to US$87MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, This money was extracted from various contracts awarded by this corporation for building of stadiums.

During our search for a capable person that can handle this transaction with high confidentiality and trust. We decide to select you. We are handicapped in this matter, as the South African Civil Service Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate any offshore account. And we are ready to give you 30% of the total amount for your assistance. Please kindly contact me as soon as you receive this email if you are interested so that i can give you more details, also all the arrangement for the smooth transfer of this money to any of your giving bank account has been concluded. We have also mapped out funds to take care of any expenses that might come up.

Thanks and God bless you
MR SAM THAMBO

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