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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: "Woolman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mreric.wooman@hotmail.co.za>
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 17:42:57 +0200
Subject: From Mr. Woollman

Mr. Eric Woolman
47G Main Road
Johannesburg, South Africa
+27-787-919-754

Hlelo,

In line with Governments commitment to transform the public sector, The South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL) was established in April 1998 by an Act of Parliament as an independent statutory company operating along commercial lines and at arms length from Government. SANRAL harnesses more than 600 person years of core skills and experience in road development and management within a highly motivated, professional and passionate team of people operating out of its (Pretoria) head office.

I am Mr. Eric Woolman, the Director of Contract Award and Procurement Commission (CAPCOM) to the Republic of South Africa. I and the Person of (CAPCOM) (Mrs. Victoria Melon) are confidentially requesting for your consent to transfer a deliberate OVER-INVOICED sum of Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand dollars Of Multi Billion Dollars Contract awarded to foreign firms for the construction of the roads linking Midrand, Limpopo and Cape Town in South Africa, but be informed that the foreign contractor's had been paid.

This is to use your name/particulars LEGALLY transfer the said fund which we deliberately inflated/over-estimated during the contract we awarded some months Ago for our personal benefit. Hence we have decided to invest and re-settle outside the South Africa.

I await your urgent positive respond.

Best Regards
Mr. Eric Woolman
+27-787919754

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