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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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: "NELSON MAZWAI" <mailmazwai@mailbox.co.za> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2005 19:23:33 -0700
Subject: ACKNOWLEDGE MY MAIL ( Mutual Benefit )

Engineer Nelson Mazwai
Ministry of public works South Africa.
Tel/Fax: 27-846662715

Attn: THE PRESIDENT/MANAGING DIRECTOR

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Engineer Nelson Mazwai, a Director of the Contracts Award and Review Department with the Ministry of public works South Africa. I am contacting you on the business involving the transfer of US$20.5m (Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only) into a safe foreign account and the need is very urgent. I hereby write to solicit for the transfer of this contracts fund into your bank account as the beneficiary.

SOURSE OF FUNDS:

The contract fund was generated from normal commercial activities here in South Africa through a contract that was awarded in favor of foreign construction companies for local and urban public works with whole country. The contract was over invoiced to the tune of $20.5m. I hereby write for your assistance and partnership by providing a convenient bank account were the funds can be transferred in your names/company as the beneficiary because as a civil servant here in South Africa I am not permitted to own a foreign accounts due to civil service code of conduct in South Africa. However my present financial resources as a civil servant will not be sufficient for me to handle the transfer alone successfully without financial assistance from a reliable foreign partner abroad like you.

YOUR ROLE:

All I need from you is to STAND AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE SAID FUNDS AND PROVIDE A CONVENIENT BANK ACCOUNT FOR THE TRANSFER of the above quoted sum which has already been deposited in a suspense bank account with the Reserve Bank of South Africa where the final crediting is expected to be carried out. Meanwhile we shall secure various legal contract funds transfer documentation that will back up our claims in your name/company and the apex bank will transfer the contract funds into your bank account as the approved beneficiary.

As soon as I receive your responses indicating your willingness to workout this transaction with me, I would email you with all the necessary modalities and disbursement ratio to suite both parties without any conflict.

However, if this proposal is acceptable by you, endeavor to reach me immediately confirming your acceptance.

Your early response will be much appreciated.

Best regards,

NELSON MAZWAI

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam