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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: "magare mashaba" <magare_mashaba@msn.com>
Reply-To: magaremashaba@excite.com
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 13:18:11 +0000
Subject: please reply

Mr Magare Luther Mashaba
Development Bank of Southern Africa.
1258 Lever Road
Headway Hill,
MIDRAND
Republic Of South Africa.


Hello,


I am Mr Magare Luther Mashaba, Executive Manager (South Africa Operations)
of Development Bank of Southern Africa.This is an urgent and very
confidential business proposition.


On May 27, 2001,a Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the South African
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Mr.Kelvin Smith made a numbered
time(Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$10,500,000.00,
(Ten Million, five hundred thousand Dollars).


Upon maturity,I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but
got no reply. After a month,we sent a reminder and finally we discovered
from his contract employers, the National Petroleum Corporation that
Mr.Kelvin Smith died from an automobile accident.On further investigation,I
found out that he died without making a WILL,and all attempts to trace his
next of kin was fruitless.


I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr.Kelvin Smith
did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,including
his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$10,500,000.00 has
carefully been fixed in my bank for safekeeping.No one will ever come
forward to claim it.According to South African Law,at the expiration of 5
(five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Government if
nobody applies to claim the fund.


Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in
as the owner of the money which was fixed deposited in my bank. I am writing
you because I as a public servant,i cannot operate a foreign account.I want
to present you as the owner of the funds so you can be able to claim them
with the help of my attorney. This is simple.I will like you to provide
immediately your full names and address so that the Attorney will prepare
the necessary documents which will put you in place as the beneficiary of
the funds.


The money will be moved out for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and
40% for you. The paperwork for this transaction will be done by the
Attorney.If you are interested, please reply immediately via my email
address and Upon your response,I shall then provide you with more details
and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.Please
observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction
would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your
assistance to invest my share in real estate within your country.


Awaiting your urgent reply via my email Above.


Thanks and my regards.


Mr.Magare Luther Mashaba



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