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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: "Shane Morgan" <shanmorgan10@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 18:08:30 +0200
Subject: Please Respond!

ATTN: The President

Good day.

I am Mr.Shane Morgan, Director of Project, South Africa Department of
Minerals & Energy. I am making this contact with you based on the
committee's need for an individual/company who is willing to assist us with
a solution to a money transfer. In unfolding this proposal, I want to count
on you, as a respected and honest person to handle this transaction with
sincerity, trust and confidentiality.

I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution
of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you
will keep it as a top secret because of the nature of this transaction.

Within the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director of
Project and with the co-operation of two other top officials, we have in our
possession as overdue payment bills totaling Eleven Million, Seven Hundred
Thousand U. S Dollars (US$11,700,000.00) which we want to transfer abroad
with the assistance and co-operation of a foreign company/individual to
receive the said funds on our behalf or a reliable foreign non-company
account to receive such funds. More so, we are handicapped in the
circumstances, as the South Africa Civil Service Code of Conduct does not
allow us to operate offshore account hence your importance in the whole
transaction.

This amount (US$11.7m) represents the balance of the total contract value
executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we
the officials over-invoiced deliberately. Though the actual contract cost
have been paid to the original contractor, leaving the balance in the tune
of the said amount which we have in principles got approval to remit by
Telegraphic Transfer (T.T) to any foreign bank account you will provide by
filling in an application through the Justice Department here in South
Africa for the transfer of rights and privileges of the former contractor to
you.

I have the authority of my partners involved to discuss on the modalities of
sharing with you. Your share of the entire sum will be 15%, then 80%for us
and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses. The business itself is 100%
safe, on your part provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and
confidentiality. Also, your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the
successful execution of this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in
you and hope that you will not disappoint me.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation. I am available to
entertain any questions concerning the clarity of this transaction. You can
reach me directly on this mail address shanemorgan@workmail.co.za

Thank you in anticipation of your co-operation.

Best Regards,
Mr Shane Morgan

_________________________________________________________________
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