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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: "Dr Morris Umar" <morrisumar@handbag.com>
Reply-To: morrisumar@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 09:19:07 -0800
Subject: I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION

ATTN:(HANDLE THIS INFORMATION SECRETLY)
Dear,

I hereby contact you personally concerning the situation in
my bank. In order to transfer out {us$34,000,000} Thirty
four million us dollars, I have the courage to look for a
reliable and honest person who will be capable for this
important business believing that you will never let me
down either now or in future.

I am Dr Morris Umar, the Regional computing auditor of
(STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA) JOHANNESBURG BRANCH (SBSA).
There is an account opened in this bank in 1985 and since
1992 nobody has operated on this account again. After going
through some old files in the records I discovered that if
I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited
for nothing according to South Africa laws and act of
1993,the money will be revert this country government
treasury after 15 years if there is no valid claim. I need
a foreign partner that will present as a relative to this
late man.

I concluded to transfer this money overseas for proper
investment that will benefit me. The owner of this account
is Mr. Daniel B.Jones, a foreigner, and a Miner at Kruger
Gold Co. a geologist by profession and he died since 1992.
No other person knows about this account or any thing
concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my
investigation proved to me as well that this company does
not know anything about this account and the amount
involved is us$34,000,000 Thirty Four million dollars.
I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money
can not be approved to a local bank here, but can only be
approved to any foreign account because the money is in US
dollars and the former owner of the account is Mr. Daniel B
Jones, who is a foreigner too. I know that this message
will come to you as a surprise as we don?t know ourselves
before, we will sign agreement, but be sure that it is real
and a fund. I only got your contact address from my
secretary during a normal routine search, i believe in God
that you will never let me down in this business, you are
the only person that I have contacted in this business, so
please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next
step to take urgently. Send also your private telephone and
fax number including the full details of the account to be
used for the deposit. I want us to meet face to face or
sign a binding agreement to bind us together so that you
can receive this money into a foreign account or any
account of your choice where the fund will be safe.
I am contacting you because of the need to involve a
foreigner with foreign account and foreign beneficiary. I
need your full co-operation to make this work fine. Because
the management is ready to approve this payment to any
foreigner who has correct information of this account,
which I will give to you later immediately, if you are able
and capable to handle such amount in strict confidence and
trust according to my instructions and advice for our
mutual benefit. I need a truthful person in this business
because I don't want to make mistake and I need your strong
assurance and trust.

With my position now in the office I can transfer this
money to any foreigner's reliable account, which you can
provide with assurance that this money will be intact
pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing. I
will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we
receive this money leaving no trace to any place. You can
also come to discuss with me face to face after which I
will make this remittance in your presence.
I will use my position and influence to effect legal
approvals and onward transfer of this money to your account
with appropriate clearance forms of the ministries and
foreign exchange departments.
At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 50%of
the total amount, 50%will be for me and my family, I look
forward to your earliest reply through my email address.
Yours truly,
Dr Morris Umar,
STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA



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