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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: smthhna@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 09 Dec 2005 12:49:34 +0200
Subject: YOUR HONEST ASSISTANCE NEEDED!!!

FROM: MR.SMITH HARUNA


YOUR HONEST ASSISTANCE NEEDED


GREETINGS FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS.I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW ME PERSONALLY, BUT PLEASE NOTE THAT MY CONTACTING YOU REGARDING THIS BUSINESS IS WITH GOOD FAITH AND WILL BE OF GREAT BENEFIT FOR BOTH FAMILIES AT THE END.


MY NAME IS MR.SMITH HARUNA.I AM FROM ZIMBABWE BUT PRESENTLY RESIDING IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH MY FAMILY AS ASYLUM CANDIDATES(REFUGEE), MY FATHER WAS KILLED DURING THE RECENT LAND DISPUTES BY THE AGENTS OF PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE.


MY FATHER WAS AMONG THE FARMERS THAT WAS KILLED, BUT BEFORE HIS DEALTH, I WAS AWARE THAT HE WENT TO JOHANNESBURG,SOUTH AFRICA AND DEPOSITED THE SUM OF $15.5 MILLION DOLLARS(FIFTEEN MILLION,FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) IN A SECURITY COMPANY THERE.


NOW, I NEED A FOREIGN BENEFICIARY WHO CAN HELP ME TO TRANSFER THIS FUND OVERSEAS AS MY POLITICAL STATUS HERE AS A REFUGEE DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO ENGAGE MY SELF IN SOME CERTAIN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS OPERATING ON A BANK.


BESIDES, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 20% OF $15.5MILLION FOR YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO ASSIST ME HONESTLY. PLEASE I WILL STOP HERE HOPING THAT YOU WILL FIND A PLACE IN YOUR HEART TO HELP FOR IT WILL DO US GOOD.


MORE DETAILS/PROCEDURES REGARDING THIS TRANSFER WILL BE SEND TO YOU AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU. YOU CAN CALL OR WRITE ME ON: smithharuna@yahoo.fr, PHONE: +27 73 402 8749


THANKS FOR ACCEPTING TO WORK WITH MY FAMILY AND ALSO FOR THE GREAT FUTURE THAT LIES FOR BOTH OF US.


WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY ASAP!!!


YOURS SINCERELLY,
MR. SMITH HARUNA


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