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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: "rebecca garang" <beccagarang@walla.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: beccagarang@yahoo.ca
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 15:46:32 +0800
Subject: assist my family

Dear friend



I am highly compelled upon strict recommendation, to write you this very urgent and confidential letter. I do hope my letter will not embarrass you since I had no previous correspondence with you. I am sending this proposal with due sense of humanity, responsibility and with few awareness that you will give it a sympathetic attention.

I regret the inconvenience it may cause you x-udd on the condition that we have not met before. I am Mrs. REBECCA NYANDENG GARANG, the wife of JOHN GARANG, the Late VICE PRESIDENT of SUDAN and former label leather who died of helicopter crash in Sudan Uganda border. I am contacting you in view of the fact that we will be of great assistance to each other like wise developing a cordial relationship.

My husband along with top officials of their past civil war in SUDAN has been accused of looting several Billion United States Dollars from the SUDAN Government. The current attitude of the present government towards my family has indeed made life quite unbearable for us. Fortunately, JOHN GARANG my Husband has Eighteen million and six hundred thousand United States Dollars (US$18.6 million) cash, which he intended to use for investment purposes overseas this money is kept in a private security company.

This money was deposited for safe keeping in the security vault of a freighting agency here by my husband preparatory to being air lifted abroad for investment purposes before he died leaving a clause that it could only be claimed by an expatriate partner. It is only my husband and myself that know where the money is kept.

Due to the current situation in the country concerning government’s vendettas towards my family, we seek your assistance to transfer this money out of SUDAN for the purpose of investment as intended by my husband. Note that my family is currently being monitored by this present government for alleged involvement in misappropriation of public funds during the ethnic / civil war which laid to several deaths. Towards this effect, an embargo restricting my family members from traveling or carrying out financial transactions without their express permission is in force.

However, I have an arrangement on how to freight this money to you after receiving some assurances from you of the safety our own share and that you will only take the commission that we will offer you. This money personally belongs to my husband and he intends that it still be used for investment. The freighting company to be used has now been introduced to me and as so on as we receive your readiness to assist us receive this fund we shall formalize the deposit documents in your name and reach an agreement with them to air lift the consignment for your pick up.

Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed to transfer this fund, we propose a commission of 15 %( Fifteen Percent) of the total sum to you for the expected services and assistance. While 5% is mapped out for miscellaneous expenses. On your positive consent, I shall expect you to contact me urgently to enable us discuss about this. Your urgent response is highly needed. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily confidential, while I await your prompt response. Please send reply to my most private email beccagarang@yahoo.ca


Thanks and hope you will of great assistant to me and my family.

Yours,

Rebecca Garang

For the family.


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