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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: mm3msko@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 22:43:19 +0200
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE

MRS.MARY MASEKO
TEL:27-83-672-0968
e-mail:m_maseko03@hotmail.com

Attn:Managing Director/CEO,

My name is MRS MARY MASEKO , the wife of the late DR THABO MASEKO
of Zimbabwe. It might be a surprise to you where I got your contact
address, I got your address from the South African chamber of commerce
and industry,please don't be worried.

During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the
supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white
owned farms in our country, he ordered all the white farmers to
surrender their farms to his party members and their followers.

My husband was the treasurer of the Farmer's Association and one
of the biggest farmer in the country, although a black indigene he
did not support the president’s political ideology, the president
supporters invaded his farm burnt down everything, killed him and
confiscated all his investments. After the death of my husband, I
and my children decided to move out of Zimbabwe for the safety of
our lives. We took along with us the money my husband kept in the
safe under my custody, for purchasing of new farm machinaries and
establishing another farmland in swaziland, which amounted to the
sum of Thirteen Million Dollars (US$13,000,000)in cash to the Republic
of South Africa.

The funds are presently being kept away in the secret
vaults of a private security firm based here in
Johannesburg. The officials of the firm believes they
are helping me in keeping my personal Valuables, not
realizing,that it's money. I and my children have decided
to contact any reliable overseas firm/person who could assist
us to transfer this money out of The Republic of South Africa,
because we as asylum seeker here in South Africa cannot open a
non-resident account through which this fund will be channeled
out to your nominated overseas account.

If my proposition is considered, for assisting us to
transfer this money to your country, we will offer you
30% of the total fund, and 5% of the total fund will be
set aside to cover any expenses incurred during this transaction.
65% will be for me and my family to
invest in your country under your supervision.

For detailed information, you can contact me on the above
e mail address m_maseko03@hotmail.com or my direct line above for effective communication.

NOTE: THE KEY WORD TO THIS TRANSACTION IS ABSOLUTE
CONFIDENTIALITY AND DESCIPLINE. THIS TRANSACTION IS
100% RISK FREE. YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY
APPRECIATED.

Best Regards,
Mary Maseko.

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