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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: "william zungu" <willzungu17@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 07 May 2005 15:52:34 +0200
Subject: TRUSTEE

FROM: WILLIAM ZUNGU
JOHANNESBURG
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
PHONE;+27-83-7660 225
E-MAIL; willzungu@hotmail.com


Attention: President C.E.O


URGENT FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE

I know you will be surprised to hear from me since you don’t know me
personally. I am WILLIAM ZUNGU , the son of Dr. ZUNGU who was recently
murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through your
country’s Information Exchange in my search for a reliable and reputable
person to handle a very confidential transaction, which involves a transfer
of fund into a foreign account and I decided to write to you. The war
veterans of the ruling Government of President Robert Mugabe for their
alleged support murdered my late father among the few black Zimbabwean rich
farmers in cold blood for the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC), which is
against Mugabe’s rule.

The land problem arose when Mugabe introduced a New Land Act that wholly
affected the rich white farmers and some blacks vehemently condemned the “
modus operadi” adopted by the government.

This resulted to rampart killings and mob action by the war veterans and
thugs. More than 78 people have so far been killed. Heads of Government from
the West, especially Britain and United States of America have voiced their
condemnation of Mugabe’s Land Act. Subsequently, South Africa Development
Community (SADC) has continuously supported Mugabe. It is against this
background that my family and I who are currently in South Africa have
decided to transfer this money out of Africa as we no longer feel safe
anymore and want to transfer this money to a foreign country where we can
establish ourselves.

Just before my father’s death, he took me to Johannesburg, South Africa to
deposit the sum of US$30.0000.00 (THIRTY MILION UNITED STATE DOLLARS) with a
security and finance company, as he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe.
This money was deposited in a box as valuables to avoid much demurrage from
the finance company. This amount was embarking for the purchase of new farms
machinery and chemicals, as well as the establishment of some new farms in
Lesotho and Swaziland.

As the eldest son of my father, I am saddled with the responsibility of
seeking for genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred
into without knowledge of my government who are tactically freezing our
family’s wealth and the South African government seems to be playing along.
I am faced with the dilemma of investing the money here since both countries
have almost the same history. More so, the South African Foreign Exchange
does not allow such investments as I am seeking for asylum.

As a businessperson whom I have to entrust my future and that of my family,
I must let you know that there is no risk and the nature of your business
does not necessarily matter. Therefore, should you be able and willing to
help me and my family, we are willing to offer you 30% of the total sum for
your assistance, 10% will be set aside for expenses we may incur while the
rest 60% will be for my family. It is our wish to invest our money on
commercial property based on your advice and I will also receive assurance
that you would not sit on this money when transferred into your account.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, please confirm your interest via my
EMAIL.please i want you to include your private telephone number for easy
communication.


Best regards,
WILLIAM ZUNGU

_________________________________________________________________
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