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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Christian Edward" <ch_edward02@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ch_edw1@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 01:15:31 +0200
Subject: Urgent business assistance

From:Christian Edward
Johannesburg
South Africa
Phone: +27-834-915-114
e-mail: ch_edw0@yahoo.com


Attn:Sir/Madam

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me
personally the purpose of my introduction is that, I am christian Edward,
the first son of Danieal Edward, who was recently murdered in the land
dispute in Zimbabwe. Hence, I decided to write you out of desperation hoping
to receive a favourable response from you very soon.

Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit he
sum US$12(Twelve million, USDollar) .In one of the private security company,
as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was deposited in
a box as gemstones to avoid much demurrage from the security company. This
amount was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the
farms and the establishment of new farms in Swaziland.

This land problem came when Zimbabwean President Mr. Robert Mugabe
introduced a new land act reforms, which wholly affected the rich white
farmers and some few black farmers. And this resulted in killing and mob
action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society. In fact
a lot of people was killed because of this land-reformed act for which my
father was one of the victims.

It is against this background that, I and my family who are currently
staying in South Africa decided to transfer my fathers? money to foreign
account since the law of South Africa prohibits a refugee (asylum seeker) to
open any bank account or to be involved in any financial transactions
throughout the territorial zone of South Africa.

As the eldest son of my father I am saddled with the responsibility of
seeking a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred
without the knowledge of my government who are bent on taking everything we
have got. Hence South Africa seems to be laying along with them. I am faced
with the dilemma of investing this mount of money in South Africa for fear
of going through same experience in future since both countries have similar
political history.

Moreover, the South African foreign exchange policy does not allow such
investment as an asylum seeker. Am seeking for someone that I will entrust
my future and that of my family in his hands.
I must let you know that this transaction is risk free. If you accept to
assist me and my family all I want you to do for me is to make arrangement
and come to Johannesburg, South Africa so that you can open a non- resident
account which will aid us in transferring this money into any account you
will nominate overseas. This money is intended to be used for investment.

I have two options for your firstly you can choose to have certain
percentage of the money, for nominating your account for this transaction
or, go into partnership with me I have decided to set aside 5% of the money
to defray all international and local expenses incurred during the course of
the transaction.

Best Regards,

Christian Edward.

Note; please your phone and fax number is needed when replying or you can
give a call.


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