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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: "david harriman" <davidharriman2@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 12:58:14 +0000
Subject: JOINT VENTURE

FROM DAVID HARRIMAN
Suit 23 Norman Avenue Santon,
Johannesburg South Africa,
Tel 27 73 401 1102                       JOINT VENTURE
Dear Sir,

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me personally. I am MR.DAVID HARRIMAN, the first son of MR.SIMON HARRIMAN who was recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through a diplomat that once worked in your country, hence decided to write to write you.

Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of US$30 Million (Thirty million United States Dollar) in a private Security Company, as if he saw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. The money was deposited in a box as a germ

stone to avoid much demurrage from the Security Company and for security reasons. This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines for the establishment of new farms in Swaziland. This land problem came when Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe introduced a new Land Reform Act which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few black farmers. And this resulted to the killing and mob action of the Zimbabwean war veterans and by some lunatics in the society. In fact a lot of people were killed because of this Land Reform Act in which my father was one of the victims.

It is against this background, that I and my family who are currently staying in South Africa decided to transfer my father's money to a foreign account since the laws of South Africa prohibit a refugee(asylum seeker) to open any bank account or to be involved

in any financial transaction throughout the territorial zone of South Africa. As the eldest son of my father, I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred without 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 investing this amount of money in South Africa for the fear of going through the same experience in
the future since both countries have similar political history. Moreover, the South Africa Foreign Exchange Policy does not allow such an investment for an asylum seeker.
As a businessman, whom I have to entrust my family in his hands, I have to let you know that this transaction is risk-free.

I have two options for you; you can either choose to have a certain percentage of the money for nominating your account for this transaction. Or you can go into partnership with me for the proper investment of the money in your country. Which ever the option you want, feel free to notify me . I have mapped out 5% of this money for all kind of expenses incurred in the process of this transaction. If you do not prefer partnership, I am willing to give you 30% of the money while the remaining 65% will be for my investment in your country.

Contact me with the above details while I implore you to maintain absolute secrecy required in this transaction.

Yours faithfully
MR.DAVID HARRIMAN

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