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

Fraud email example:

From: Pieter Anderson <linjim11@verizon.net>
Reply-To: pieter_anderson@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:08:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Sir/Madam


>From the desk of the dir,
Project implementation
Unit, Eskom, South Africa.
Tel: +27 78 861 0900
Email; pieter_anderson@hotmail.com
 
ATTN: Sir/Madam,
 
I must apologize for this unsolicited proposal but I want you to consider it as a request with the best of intentions. I am Mr. Pieter Anderson, Director Project implementation with Eskom South Africa and a member of the Contract Tenders Board (CTB) of the above corporation.

Your esteemed address was reliably introduced to me at the South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry in my search for a reliable individual/company who can handle a strictly confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a reasonable sum of money to a foreign account. This amount of money is total sum of US$35,000,000.00 (Thirty five Million United States Dollars), already extracted from various contracts awarded by my corporation. As a result of over-invoicing masterminded by the concerned officials, who have been drafted to represent final payment for a contract that has been executed to the corporation some years back. The money is now floating in the suspense account of Federal Reserve Bank of South Africa awaiting claim by Foreign Partner which status we now want you to assume.

Now is the optimum period to consummate this transaction. Following the presidential directive to pay all contractors personal/company¡s account. In my last meeting with the officials involved, it was unanimously agreed that 25% of the total sum will be given to you. 70% will be for my colleague, and me. While 5% will be used to-reimburse the expenses that may be incurred in the process of the transfer.

I assure you the transaction is 100% risk free as we have concluded every arrangement to protect the interest of every one involved. Likewise, all modalities for the successful transfer of this money have been worked out with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Reserve Bank of South Africa to facilitate the remittance of this money to your designated account. However. I would want to believe that you are honest enough and will not raise any misgiving attitude in any aspect of the transaction, more importantly; you will keep this transaction very confidential so as not to tarnish the confidence reposed on this official by the Government of South Africa.

lf this business proposal is of interest to you, then kindly contacts me via my direct telephone number above. Meanwhile, your immediate response will be highly appreciated. Please treat this information as confidential.
 
Best regards,

Mr. Pieter Anderson.

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