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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: "guri rusten" <g2008@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: guri_2008@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 17:07:14 +0200
Subject: waiting for your reply

Mr.Guri Rusten
Johannesburg,
South Africa.
Sir/Madam,
It is my great pleasure to write you this letter on behalf of my
colleagues. Your information was given to me by a member of the South
African Export Promotion Council (SAEPC). I have decided to seek a confidential
co-operation with you in the execution of the deal hereunder for the benefit
of all parties and hope you will keep it confidential because of the
nature of this business.
Within the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director of Audit
and Project Implementation and with the co-operation of three other top officials,
we have in our possession an overdue payment in US funds. The said funds represent certain
percentage of the total contract value executed on behalf of my Department
by a foreign contracting firm, which we the officials
over-invoiced to the amount of US$28.500,000.00 (Twenty Eight Million
Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars). Though the actual contract cost has
been paid to the original contractor, leaving the excess balance
unclaimed.Since the present Government is determined to pay foreign
contractors all debts owed, so as to maintain good relationship with
foreign governments and non-governmental agencies. We intend to include our
bills for approvals with the Department of Finance and the Contract
Review and Payment Committee (C.R.P.C.). So we are seeking your
assistance to front as beneficiary of the unclaimed funds, since we are not
allowed to operate foreign accounts. Details and change of beneficiary
information upon application for claim to reflect payment and approvals
will be secured on behalf of you/your company.
I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be willing to assist
us in this transaction your share as compensation will be so
negotiated and agreed upon by both you and we on this side, before
further details will change hands to enhance our primary
objective.
The business is completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with
utmost confidentiality. It does not matter whether you/your company
does contract projects as a transfer of powers will be secured in favor
of you/your company to settle any legality. Also, your area of
specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this
transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not
disappoint us.
The mode of sharing after a successful transfer of the
money into your account, shall be 70% to my colleagues and I, for the
role you will be expected to play in this deal, we have agreed to give
you 25% of the total sum and 5% for the expenses we are going to
encounter by the two parties at the course of this transaction.
I expect your urgent response either by phone or fax. Always use my
confidential e-mail(guri_2008@yahoo.com) to enable us conclude this
transaction urgently without any hitch.
Kindly notify me for further
details upon your acceptance of this proposal.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Regards,
Mr. Guri Rusten.


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