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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: "paul rhodes" <paul@rhodesfarms.org>
Reply-To: winners_award@uksweep-stakespromo1.net
Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2005 15:48:22 +0000
Subject: CHIPINGE FARMS


FROM PAUL RHODES,
CHIPINGE FARMS, ZIMBABWE
EMAIL: (paulrhodes113@COMPUTERMAIL.NET),

Dear Partner,

Naturally, this letter will come to you as a surprise since we have not
met,permit me however to introduce myself; I am Paul Rhodes, a white
Zimbabwean Farmer, currently in hiding in Zimbabwe. I used to work in three
tobacco farms in Chipinge, and I was also part owner of these farms which
were owned by my late father. I am contacting you as the need to for me to
have a foreign partner in your country has become necessary due to my plans
to relocate to that country so that I can purchase some land and start
farming all over again, as the present political instability in Zimbabwe,
does not encourage financial investment as the environment is no longer
conducive for farming investment and most of all,security is not guaranteed,
just as reported by international media.

This problem started when the Zimbabwean government under the leadership of
President Robert Mugabe announced a decree on May 31st 2000 to seize more
than 849 white-owned farms. During this period, as reported by international
media and the CNN, more than 6 white farmers(including my father) were
killed; the government is not stopping at this, as the government has
already asked all white-farmers to give up their farms to black farmers or
risk going to prison. So far, more than 1,400 white owned farms have been
invaded and confiscated, as well as claiming the properties of the farmers.
Also, about 133 white farmers arrested for defying the orders to leave their
farms under the controversial land reform program of the government. Having
lived in this country Zimbabwe for years, I have no other country to go to,
therefore, I decided to contact you, for your assistance, so that I can
divert my interest in Zimbabwe to a more stable country as yours.

Also, I must re-iterate the importance of having a citizen of your country
to front for me, since i intend to purchase some land for farming, I do not
know much about your land-ownership laws, I thought it wise to seek the help
of a foreigner to act as proxy for me. For this purpose, I have put in a
security deposit all monies from the sale of my farming equipment(including
tractors etc) and also all financial profits. All these are a total of
US$18.5million.

I will upon receiving your consent prepare every document to enable you
receive this money on my behalf, pending my arrival to meet with you in your
country so that we can both make further arrangements with regards to the
purchase of land. For your assistance to me, you will be entitled to
a commission of 15% of the total sum that you will be receiving on my behalf
for the above purpose. If you are interested and willing to assist me, you
should please forward to me via my confidential email
address:paulrhodes113@COMPUTERMAIL.NET(TAKE NOTE OF THIS PLEASE!!),
the following information so that I can reach you:

1. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
2. YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER,

I am waiting urgently for your response, while also requesting that you
treat this matter in strict privacy. Cheers and God bless.

I will give you more details when i hear from you. You can click on the link
below to get a better understanding my situation and why i need to move out
my money:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1068528.stm

Best Regards
PAUL RHODES


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