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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: "fred mende" <banker64@ecplaza.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mende2000@ecplaza.net
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 19:55:33 +0000
Subject: ( )

Dear Sir/ Madam

I am Mr. Fredrick Mende, Provincial Manager Standard Bank of South Africa,
Capetown, Branch. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition
for you.

On June 6, 2000, a foreign mining consultant/contractor with the South
Africa Mining Corporation, Mr. Richard Moss made a numbered time (Fixed)
Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$12,500,000.00 (Twelve.
five Million Dollars) in my branch. 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 South
Africa Mining Corporation that Mr. Richard Moss 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. Richard Moss

did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of
US$12,500,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being
rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. 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 South
Africa 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 next of kin to Mr. Richard Moss so that the fruits of this old man's

labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.
This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and
address so that the Attorney will prepare the necessary documents and
affidavits which will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ
the service of two Attorneys for processing and notarization of the WILL
and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in
your favour for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world which

you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as
the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for
us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you.
There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be
done by the Attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the
successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please
reply immediately via the private email address below. Upon your response,
I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will
help you understand the transaction.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require
your assistance to invest my share in your country.
Awaiting your urgent reply via my email:mende2000@ecplaza.net.I am in london at the
moment.You can call me on +44-77-488-15830,for more details.

Thanks and Regards.
Mr. Fred Mende.


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