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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: "Rodrigues Silva" <rodriguesmsilva3@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 13:58:40 +0200
Subject: Regards,

FROM: MR. RODRIGUES MANUEL DA SILVA
TEL: 0027-83-966 8858
FAX: 0027-73-939-9111

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
To: The managing director,

Greetings!

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.
RODRIGUES M. SILVA, the son of the late Brigadier LAWRENCE ENFUMA SILVA.

I got your contact information from a business directory in Angola Chamber
of Commerce and industry. And I, on behalf of my late father and family
decided to solicit for your assistance to transfer the sum of US
D$28.5Million (Twenty-Eight Million Five Hundred Thousands United States
Dollars) inherited by my late father into your company or private bank
account.

Before the death of my father he was a Brigadier in charge of arms and
ammunition procurement for the Angola army. In his will, he specifically
drew my attention to the sum of US D$28.5MILLION, Which he had deposited in
a safe box in a private security company in Johannesburg, South Africa. In
fact he said and I quote "My beloved son, I wish to draw your attention to
the sum of US D$28.5 Million. I deposited the said box containing the fund
in a private security company in South Africa. During the war, I was very
dedicated and committed to winning the war against the rebels until when I
found out that some senior army officers and government functionaries were
busy helping themselves with government funds and properties, sending them
to foreign countries. Due to this, when I and former special, adviser to the
president were assigned by president (Jose Eduardo Santos) to purchase arms
in South Africa, we saw this as an opportunity to divert the money for our
personal use. When we divided the money, my share was US D$28.5Million. I
did this in case of my absence due to death so that you and your sister's
wouldn't suffer.

You should solicit for assistance of a reliable and sincere foreign partner
to assist you to transfer this money out of South Africa for investment. I
deposited the box in your name and you alone with the deposit code can claim
it. Your mother is with all the documents, take good care of your mother and
your two sisters. Do not disappoint me. Good bye."

From this word of my father, you will understand that the lives and the
future of my family depends on this fund as such I will be grateful if you
can assist us. Now what I want you to do for us as an international partner
is to help us clear this sum from the security company using your name as a
beneficiary of the fund. You can contact me on the above telephone and fax
number: and as well as my email address for more details.

We have agreed to give you 25% of the total sum for your assistance and 5%
is for the expenses that might be incurred in the course of the transfer and
the remaining 70% is for the family's investment in your country which you
will also assist us to materialize. Further information and discussion
about this transaction will commence as soon as your assurance and
confidence that this money will be safe when transferred to your account and
please treat this matter with urgency and confidential.

Your urgent response is required through the above numbers.

Thanks and God bless,
Regards,


MR. RODRIGUES M. SILVA.

_________________________________________________________________
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