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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: smithmbani@aim.com
Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 02:31:49 +0200
Subject: Please Treat Very Urgent

From: Dr. Smith Mbani.
Department of Mineral Resources,
Republic of South Africa

Hello!

It is my great pleasure to write you this letter on behalf of my
colleagues.

Your information was given to me by a member of the South African
Export Promotion Council (SAEPC) who was with the Government delegation
on a trip to overseas country for bilateral conference talks to encourage
foreign investors. I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you
in the execution of the deal hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope
you will keep it confidential because of the nature of this business.

Within the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director
of Audit and Project Implementation and with the co-operation of three
other top officials, we have in our possession an overdue payment in US
Dollar funds. The said funds represent certain percentage of the total
contract value executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting
firm, which we the officials over-invoiced to the amount of US$28.500,000.00
(Twenty Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars).
Though the actual contract cost has been paid to the original
contractor, leaving the excess balance unclaimed.

Since the present Government is determined to pay all foreign
contractor's debts owed in order to maintain good relationship with
foreign governments and non-governmental agencies. We intend to include
our bills for approvals with the Department of Finance and the Contracts
Award and Payments Committee. So we are seeking your assistance to front as
beneficiary of the unclaimed funds, since we are not allowed to operate foreign
accounts. Details and change of beneficiary information upon application for
claim to reflect payment and approvals will be secured on behalf of you/your
company.


I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you
be willing to assist us in this transaction your share as compensation
will be so negotiated and agreed upon by both you and we on this side,
before further details will change hands to enhance our primary
objective. The mode of sharing after a successful transfer of the money into your
account, shall be 70% to my colleagues and I, for the role you will be expected
to play in this deal, we have agreed to give you 25% of the total sum
and 5% for the expenses we are going to encounter by the two parties at the
course of this transaction.

The business is completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with
utmost confidentiality. It does not matter whether you/your company
does contract projects as a transfer of powers will be secured in favor of
you/your company to settle any legality. Also, your area of specialization is
not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction. I have
reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint us.

I expect your urgent response to enable us conclude this transaction
urgently without any hitch. Kindly notify me via my email for further
details upon your acceptance of this proposal.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Regards,

Dr. Smith Mbani
Email:smithmbani1@yahoo.co.uk

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