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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: "tula williams" <tulawilliams800@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 14:40:21 +0200
Subject: PRIVATIZATION/PARTNERSHIP

FROM Mr. TULA WILLIAMS
NO 17 GARDEN STREET
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA.
TELE. +27 73 277 03 56
EMAIL: tulawilliams800@hotmail.com

Attn: SIR/MADAM,

I know you will be surprise to read a letter from me but please consider
this as a request from a family in dare need of assistance. I am Mr. TULA
WILLIAMS the First Son of the late Mr.TULA RADEBE who was assassinated by
the so-called war veterans of Zimbabwe.I am writing From South Africa where
I am now as refugee with my Mother Mrs. ELIZABETH TULA who is now a Widow
and My sister. I got your contact from the SOUTH AFRICAN INFORMATION
EXCHANGE (S.A.I.E.) Johannesburg. My late father was a great rich farmer and
a front liner to oppose the intimidating new land act meant to dispossess
farmland from the white and Black farmers.

As the result of my husband's opposition, the war veterans sponsored by the
tyrannical government led by the Dictator, PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE started
to terrorize his life. He ran to South Africa as apolitical asylum seeker
(REFUGEE) with the Sum of ELEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS
ONLY (US$11,500,000.00) which he realized from the sale of tobacco and
livestock (cattle) but as a refugee he was not allowed to open a bank
account he then deposited this fund in a security company as family
valuable, Since the security companies do not run banking activities.

When the tension in our country looked calm he returned home and handed over
the deposit agreements and insurance document issued to him by the security
company in South Africa, where he deposited the safe box containing this
fund for safe keeping. According to him, the content of the said BOX was not
actually disclosed to the security company but rather it was declared to
them as a GERM STONES. After two days of his return to Zimbabwe the
assassins trooped invade into our compound at about 11pm local time 29th
January last year and killed him. Also they sought to kill the entire family
but as God is alive we escape and successfully ran out of the country to the
neighboring South Africa as a refugee. Our refugee status does not empower
us to run any business or to open an account so right now we are living
below poverty level.

We are suffering hence I write you to assist us transfer this fund into your
personal or company's account Now, I would like you to come down to South
Africa and assist me to get the fund from the Security Company and also to
open a non-resident dollar account where the money will be deposited first
for onward transfer into your account, so that when my when I came to your
country you will also assist me invest it.

The family agreed to offer you 25% of the total sum for your assistance and
5% of the expenses that might be incurred in the course of the transfer and
the remaining 70% for the families’ investment in your country, which you
will also assist us to materialize. On the acceptance of this proposal, you
should furnish me with your private telephone, fax number and I will like
you to contact me through the above telephone and E-mail. Please treat this
matter with urgency and confidential. I put all my faith in you. Wishing you
now and always God's blessings.

Thanks, YOURS FAITHFULY

MR.TULA WILLIAMS

(FOR THE FAMILY)


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