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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: "DAVID CANE" <davidcane04oguwmatrsce@excite.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 13:36:19 +0100
Subject: Please Acknowledge Reciept

Mr.David Cane.
Imperial Bank.
140 Boeing Road East
Elma Park Edenvale
Gauteng 1610
Republic Of South Africa.

Dear Friend,

I can’t imagine how you will feel receiving a sudden business letter from a remote country in far away Africa and probably from someone you are not closely related with. But all the same, I believe we do not need to be of blood relatives before we can establish cordial/business relationship. Having said this,I think it is very important at this juncture to introduce myself to you.

I am Mr.David Cane, Head: Enterprise Wide Risk and member of the executive and risk committees of Imperial Bank,South Africa.I got your email address from the Internet.This is an urgent and very confidential business proposition.

On June 6, 2000,a Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Mr.Williams Mitchell made a numbered time(Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$26,500,000.00,(Twenty-six Million, five hundred thousand Dollars).

Upon maturity,I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month,we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the National Petroleum Corporation that Mr.Williams Mitchell died from an automobile accident. On further investigation,I found out that he died without making a "WILL",and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr.Williams Mitchell did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$26,500,000.00 has carefully been fixed in my bank for safekeeping. No one will ever come forward to claim it.According to South African Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in as the owner of the money which was fixed deposited in my bank. I am writing you because I as a public servant,i cannot operate a foreign account.

I want to present you as the owner of the funds so you can be able to claim them with the help of my attorney. This is simple.I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that the Attorney will prepare the necessary documents which will put you in place as the beneficiary of the funds.

The money will be moved out for us to share in the ratio of 80% for me and 20% for you. The paperwork for this transaction will be done by the Attorney If you are interested, please reply immediately via my email address and Upon your response,I shall then provide you with more details that will help you understand the transaction.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in real estate within your country.

Due to the nature of confidentiality in this Transaction our communication can only be via email and fax mostly.

Awaiting your urgent reply via email.

Thanks and my regards.

Mr.David Cane.

PLEASE REPLY TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL:davidcane07@netscape.net

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