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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: lbtbkabongo <kabongonkule01@walla.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 07:50:55 +0200
Subject: ASSISTANCE NEEDED

DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY
PRETORIA,
SOUTH AFRICA.


Kindly reply: kabongonkule@walla.com

Dear Friend,
It is my great pleasure to write you this letter on behalf of my colleagues.I have decided to seek a
confidential co-operation with you in the execution of a deal hereunderfor the benefit of all parties and
hope you will keep it confidential because of the nature of the business.

Within the Department of Minerals and Energy where I work as an Assistant Director of audit,with the
co-operation of two other top officials,we have in our possession an overdue contractor payment in US
Dollars funds.The said funds represent certain percentage of the contract value executed on behalf of
my Department by a foreign contracting firm,(Pearls Ltd) which we the officials over-invoiced to the
amount of US$41,500,000 (Forty-0ne Million, Five hundred Thousand U. S. Dollars).Since the present
elected Government is determined to pay foreign contractors all debts owed,so as to maintain good
relations with foreign governments and non-governmental agencies,we included our bills for approvals
with the Department of Finance and the Reserve Bank of South Africa (RBSA).We are 100% sure of
funds approvals to anyone or company we (The Audit Committee) recommend as part of the sub-
contractors who did jobs for the Department.

We are seeking your assistance to front as the sub-contractor 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.

My colleagues and I are prepared to give you 20% while we take 70% and the balance of 10% for taxes
and miscellaneous expenses incurred.

This 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 rights will be secured in favour
of you/your Company through the Federal High Court of South Africa before we can proceed.

I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint us.Kindly notify me
immediately via my alternative email (kabongonkule@walla.com) for further details upon your acceptance
of this proposal.

Yours Faithfully,
Kabongo Nkule(Mr)

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