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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. James Samora" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamessa11@mail.kz>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:08:58 -0800
Subject: VERY URGENT

                                                                                                            28-07-2010
Attn: Maina Marion G,                                                                                                       
Re: Request for Confidential Business Relationship
First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction. I am a high placed official working with Department of Finance (& Economic Affairs), in Johannesburg   South Africa. I and two other colleagues are currently in need of a silent foreign partner whose identity we can use to transfer the sum of Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. dollars. (US$15,500,000.00) this fund accrued legitimately to us as commission from foreign contracts, through our private connections.
The fund is presently waiting to be remitted from here in South Africa to any overseas beneficiary confirmed by us as associate/receiver. By virtue of our positions as civil servants in my country, we cannot acquire this money in our names. Because as highly placed civil servants, we are not allowed by the civil service code of conduct to own or operate bank accounts outside of our shores. On the other hand, it is not safe for us to keep the money here due to unstable political environment.
 
I have been mandated as a matter of trust by my colleagues, to look for an overseas silent partner who could work with us to facilitate transfer of this fund for our mutual benefit hence the reason for this email.
 
What I am requesting from you is:
(1) To be our silent partner and receive the funds as the sole benefactor to the contract amount which we shall secure all legal documentation to authenticate our claim.
(2) Provide a private telephone and fax number for easy communication under your control.
(3)Receive the funds as the beneficiary, take out your commission and keep the rest of the money until I arrive there to meet you after the transfer is completed.
My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be shared as follows: (1) 15% to you as commission for your co-operation and assistance in facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 85% belongs to me and two colleagues. You will be free to take out your commission immediately after the money hits your country. Since our objective is to invest the money in a foreign country, it would be appreciated if you could also help us with advices and direction on investing into profitable/lucrative ventures in your country. Please, give me your response immediately by return mail through my email: jamessamora@gmail.com and telephone number: +27721932235
                                                                                                                
Yoursfaithfully
Mr. James Samora
 

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