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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: fran sanko <fsank33@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:12:30 +1200
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE





LT-COL-FRANCIS SANKOH#03 DRYSDALE ESTATE ROODERPOORE,RUSTENBURGJOHANNESBURG,R,S,ATEL:27-829585170ALTERNATIVE:E.MAILS.sankfran1000@yahoo.com/
frsankoh1000@hotmail.com

ATTN: SIR/MADAM,

URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

I KNOW YOU WILL BE SURPRISE TO READ FROM ME,MORESO WHEN IT CAME FROM A STRANGER.BUT PLEASE CONSIDER THIS LETTER AS A REQUEST FROM SOMEBODY IN DARE OF ASSISTANCE.

FIRSTLY,I MUST INTRODUCE MYSELF,IM LT. COL.FRANCIS SANKOH THE FORMER PERSONAL SECURITY TO THE LATE PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ("DRC) FORMERLY ZAIRE. IM PRESENTLY IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AS AN ASYLUM SEEKER.I GOT YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS FROM A BUSINESS DIRECTORY/ATTACHED TO THE WORLD-WEB IN JOHANNESBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND AFTER GOING THROUGH YOUR PROFILE I DECIDED TO SOLICIT FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF US$19MILLION (NINTEEN MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) INTO YOUR COMPANY/PERSONAL ACCOUNT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES OUT SIDE AFRICA.

BEFORE HIS DEATH, LATE PRESIDENT KABILA WAS AWARE THAT REBELS WILL NOT LEAVE ANY STONE UNTURNED IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO REMOVE HIM FROM GOVERNMENT HENCE HE STARTED LOOTING THE COUNTRY'S TREASURE,HE DIRECTED ME TO OVERSEE THE MOVEMENT OF A CERTAIN BOX MARKED,"DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENTS" INTO ZIMBABWE BUT I DECIDED TO DIVERT THE BOX INTO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA WHERE I FUND OUT THAT THE BOX WAS ACTUALLY CONTAINING THE SUM OF US$19MILLION (NINTEEN MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS).I THEREFORE DEPOSITED THE BOX CONTAINING THE FUND INTO A SECURITY AND FINANCE COMPANY HERE IN JOHANNESBURG.I HAVE BEEN IN HIDING SINCE THEN,BUT NOW WE HAVE GOT ASYLUM DOCUMENT THROUGH OUR FAMILY ATTORNEY THEREFORE I DECIDED TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY OUT OF AFRICA FOR INVESTMENT.

FROM THE ABOVE, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY CHILDREN DEPENDS ON THE FUND AS SUCH,I WILL BE GREATFUL IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME.I AM NOW LIVING IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AS A POLITICAL ASYLUM SEEKER WITH MY FAMILY AND THE FINANCIAL RULES AND REGULATION OF SOUTH AFRICA DO NOT PERMIT ME FINANCIAL RIGHT TO SUCH HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

IN VIEW OF THIS,I CANNOT INVEST THIS FUND IN SOUTH AFRICA.HENCE I AM PREPARED TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM FOR YOUR ASSITANCE,WHILE 10% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR UNFORESEEN EXPENSES AND 70% WILL BE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY'S INVESTMENT IN YOUR ABLE ASSISTANCE. PLEASE CALL ME ON THE ABOVE TELEPHONE AND E-MAIL ADDRESS TO SIGNIFY YOUR INTEREST IN THIS TRANSACTION.

THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.

LT.COL.FRANCIS.SANKOH
_________________________________________________________________
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