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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: "tare zuma" <tare_zuma@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 09:01:51 +0000
Subject: DIRECTOR, BILLS AND EXCHANGE,

FROM MR.TARE ZUMA
DIRECTOR, BILLS AND EXCHANGE,
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
FIRST RAND BANK LTD.
SOUTH AFRICA.
EMAIL:tarezuma@webmail.co.za

Dear

I am MR.TARE ZUMA, The Director of bills/exchange at the foreign Remittance
department of First Rand Bank Limited, South Africa. I have decided to
contact you through this medium based on a business proposal, which will be
of mutual benefit to both of us. However be Informed that I discovered your
company/person through your country's Directory. here in South Africa when I
was searching of a foreign business partner whom I will transfer this fund
in his personal or company’s account, that is why I contacted you, During a
usual bank auditing, we discovered an abandoned sum of US$ 15,000 000:00
(FIFTEEN MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY) in an account that belong to one of our
foreign customers (MR ANDREASGREG) who died along with his entire family on
November 1999 in a ghastly car accident. Since we got the information about
his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his
money, because we can not release it unless some body apply for it as next
of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.

Unfortunately, no body has come forward to claim this money. It is based on
this that some officials in my department and I have decided to establish a
cordial business relationship with you, hence my contacting You. If you
indicate interest in this affairs, our Attorney shall prepare some
documents, which we shall Send to you and your name shall be incorporated as
a Beneficiary of this fund (NEXT OF KIN OF MR ANDREAS GREG) The information
shall be backdated and put in MR ANDREAS GREG'S FILE.

As soon as I get your response to this massage, I will send you the bank
transfer from which you will fill and fax it back to us to enable us submit
it to the bank for transfer approval. I will also consult a lawyer who will
represent you in all legal procedures and sign the necessary documents
before the transfer will commenced. Then again, we do not want the money to
go into the Government account as unclaimed bill. The banking law and
guidelines here stipulates that any account Abandoned or dormant for a
period of years is deemed Closed and all money contained therein would be
Forfeited to the government treasury account.

Now it is being speculated that the above sum will be Transferred into the
government account as an Unclaimed fund on or before OCTOBER 2005. The mode
of sharing after the transfer of the money into your nominated account will
be:70% for me And my colleagues and 30% will be given to you for the Role
you will be expected to play in the whole Exercise, and will be mapped out
for expenses both of us. will incure in this transfer if this proposal
matches with your inward i tension for success and greatness, then you are
urged to make a quick response indicating your readiness and Interest to
participate in the business.

I expect your Urgent response through this e-mail address or phone and fax
or please send me your private telephone and fax numbers to enable us
Conclude this transaction soon enough. Please treat this business proposal
As strictly Confidential for our mutual long-term benefit. Hoping to hear
from you very Soon.
Best Regards

MR.MR.TARE ZUMA


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