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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: "grace martins" <gggmartins63@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 07:03:48 +0000
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

















FROM: MRS.GRACE MARTINS.
ATTENTION :PLEASE



PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.
Greetings!

I know you will be surprised to read a letter from me,but please, consider
this as a request from a family in dare need of assistance. I am Mrs. GRACE
MARTINS,the wife of late Brigadier Amoke Martins from Angola.I am writing to
you from government Reserved Area (GRA) South Africa.

And I, on behalf of my late husband and my only son,(CLEMENT) decided to
solicit for your assistance to transfer the sum of US$20 million dollars,
from my late husband into your company or private bank account.

Before the death of my husband, he was a Brigadier in-charge of Arms and
ammunition procurement for the Angolan Army. In his will, he specifically
drew my attention to the sum of US$20 million, which he had
deposited, in a safe box of a private Security Company in Johannesburg,
South Africa. In fact, he said and I quote “ My beloved son, I wish to draw
your attention to the sum of US$20 million. I deposited the said
box containing the fund in a Security Company in Johannesburg, South
Africa.During the war, I was very dedicated and committed to wining the war
against the rebels until when I found out that some senior army
officers and government functionaries were busy helping themselves with
government funds and properties, sending them to foreign countries. Due to
this,when I and former special adviser to the President were assigned by the
President (Jose Eduardo Santos) to purchase arms in South Africa, we saw
this as an opportunity to divert the money for our personal use. When we
divided the money, my share was US$20 million. I did this in case of my
absence due to death so that you, Clement, your two sisters and your mother
wouldn’t suffer.

You should solicit for assistance of a reliable and sincere foreign partner
to assist you to transfer this money out of South Africa for investment. I
deposited the box in your name and you alone with the deposit code can claim
it.Your mother is with all the documents, take good care of your mother and
your two sisters. Do not disappoint me! Good bye”.

From this word of my late husband, you will understand that the lives and
future of my family depend on this fund as such I will be grateful if you
can assist us.Now what I want you to do for us as an international partner
is to help us clear this sum from the Security Company using your name as
the beneficiary of the fund. You can contact my son (Clement Martins) who is
now in South Africa on his telephone number 27-73-736-5082,for more details.

We have agreed to give you 20% of the total sum for your assistance and 5%
for the expenses that might be incurred in the course of the transfer and
the remaining 75% for the family’s investment abroad which
you will also assist us to materialize. Further information and discussion
about this transaction will commence as soon as you give us the assurance
and confidence that this money will be safe when
transferred to your account and, please treat this matter with urgency.

Thanks and God bless.

Regards,

GRACE( FOR THE FAMILY ).

_________________________________________________________________
Find a job, book a flight, search for a car - visit MSN South Africa!
http://www.msn.co.za/


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