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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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Fraud email example:

From: "MARRIAM ZION" <marriam_zion@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: marriam_zion@rrdiffmail.com
Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 23:09:37 -0700
Subject: MARRIAM ZION

Dear friend,
You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not
know me personally.
I am Marriam Zion, the daughter of CHIEF Mugge Zion one of the most
popular black farmer in Zimbabwe who was recently murdered in the land
dispute in my country.
I got your contact through network online hence decided to write
you.Before the death of my father,he had taken me to Cotonou BENIN to deposit
the sum of USD$30.500 Million(ten million five hundred thousand ,united
states dollars),in one of the security company in cotonu, as he foresaw the
looming danger in Zimbabwe this money was deposited in a box as African
Artifacts to avoid much dumorrage from security company.This amount was
meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the Farms and
establishment of new farms in swaziland and Cotonou
BENIN. This land problem came when Zimbabwean President Mr.Robert
Mugabe introduced a new Land Act Reform wholly affecting the rich white
farmers and some few black farmers,and this resulted to the killing and mob
action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society. In
fact a lot of people were killed because of this Land reform Act for
which my father was one of the victims .It is against this background
that,I and my only Brother Marthin Don fred Zimbabwe for fear of our lives and
are currently staying in DUBAI UAE where we are seeking political
asylum and have decided to transfer my late father's money to a more
reliable foreign account.Since the law of DUBAI UAE prohibits a
refugee (asylum seeker) to open any bank account or to be involved in any
financial transaction throughout the territorial zone of Cotonou As the
First issue of my father,I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking
a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred w
ithout the knowledge of my government who are bent on taking everything
we have got.The South African government seems to be playing along with
them. I am faced with the
dilemma of moving this amount of money out of side Africa for fear of
going through the same experience in future, both countries have similar
political history.As a businessman,I am seeking for a partner who I
have to entrust my future and that of my only BROTHER in his hands,I must
let you know that this transaction is 100% risk free.
If you are willing to assist me and my younger BROTHER ,all I want you
to do for me, is to make anarrangements with the security company to
clear the consignment (funds) from their affiliate office in europe I am
conteplating if to give directives to the consignment to be moved to
switzerland or holand from cotonu.But before then all modalities will
have to be put in place like change of ownership to the consignment and
more importantly this money I intend to use for investment.
I have two options for you. Firstly you can choose to have certain
percentage of the money for nominating your account for this transaction
(Negotiable).Or you can go into partnership with me for the proper
profitable investment of the money in your country if you have any expert
idea on a good business .Whichever the option you want, feel free to
notify me.I have also mapped out 5% of this money for all kinds of expenses
incurred in the process of this transaction.If you do not preffer a
partnership. I am willing to give you 15% of the money while the remaining
80% will be for my investment in your country.while i implore you to
maintain the absolute secrecy and confidentiality required in this
transaction.
Thanks,
Yours Faithfully,
Marriam Zion (M1SS)



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