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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: "Donald Richard" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <donaldrichard854@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2018 13:48:42 -0700
Subject: Subject: Please treat as urgent/confidential (2018/09/21)

Good day and I hope my email will find you in good health and spirit.
 
 
Firstly, I must solicit your confidence and trust in this transaction; this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive but please be patient and read carefully.
 
My name is Donald Richard, an independent financial consultant on Mining and Oil and Gas sector here in South Africa; I would respectfully request that you treat the contents of this mail privately.
 
 
In 2016, a client who is a foreign expatriate and a mining magnate  resident here in South Africa came to me with an investment capital of 45.5million United States Dollars, Based on my advice, we spun the money around on various business opportunities and made attractive margins for our first  years of operation, earlier this year 2018 around April, he instructed that the principal sum be liquidated because he needed to make an urgent investment in a mining business deal in Botswana  which requires cash payments; he then directed that I liquidate his fixed asset with the banks and other institutions where money was being used in trade benefits  and have the funds deposited with a securities firm towards the intended Botswana deal. The firm is an especially private firm that accepts deposits from high net worth individuals and blue-chip corporations. I immediately acted upon his instruction by liquidating his fixed asset with ba nks etc and thereafter ch
 
 
 
However, the firm got in touch with me in May this year (last month), informing me that the agreed period of time the money is expected to be in their custody will expire by the end of October 2018 hence the notice of reminder was sent to me as his financial consultant and because I was directly involved with the deposit. At the time of receiving the notice from the security firm, I tried to contact my client to inform him on the notice that I had received from the security firm but my attempts were fruitless. On further inquiries I found out that my client was involved in an accident in Cannes South of France which claimed his life, this was barely two weeks after I had spoken with him and he informed me that the Botswana deal was being delayed and so he was spending another three weeks in Europe where he was attending to some other businesses.
 
 
 
It will interest you to know that most of my dealing with my client was very private away from the knowledge of the bank based on trust and confidence that he had in me. Due to my clients numerous business connections and involvement, he always prefers to front others to stand as his fiduciary agent especially in monetary matters. Unfortunately, my client died intestate. He has no will or next of kin in connection with the funds deposited with the security firm and that is the reason I am contacting you for us to mutually benefit from the fortune left behind.
 
 
 
What I am proposing is to have you stand as the beneficiary and associate partner to my late client to receive the USD40, 500,000.00 from the security firm. The security firm has no clue on who will be the recipient of the fund and will only follow my instruction to release funds to whoever I present as beneficiary. I have exclusive access to all paper works and all the documentations necessary to process the release of funds to you as beneficiary recipient. It is my intention that we both benefit from this fortune and split the fund 50/50 as soon as money is released to you successfully.
 
 
 
Nobody is getting hurt; this is a lifetime opportunity for us. I hold the KEY to this fund and all I need is a trusted and reliable partner to work with me and achieve this success for ourselves.
 
 
Please note I am a family man; I have a wife and children. I send you this mail not without a measure of fear as to the consequences if you should decide to turn my proposal down or label it as unsolicited, but I know within me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that success and riches never come easy or on a platter of gold. Do not betray my confidence. If we can be of one accord, we should act swiftly on this. Please get back to me as soon as possible if you are interested.
 
 
I will be waiting for your prompt response.
 
Regards,
 
Donald Richard.

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