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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: "george benson" <george_benson2004@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 04:27:10 -0600
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE

FROM:GEORGE BENSON
JOHANESBURG SOUTH AFRICA.


PRESIDENT/CEO

URGENT ASSISTANCE

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know
me personally. I am GEORGE BENSON, the SON of MR. KINGSLEY BENSON, who was
recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact
through network online hence decided to write to you. Before the death of
my FATHER, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of USD$22.5
Million , in one of the private security companies, as if he foresaw the
looming danger in Zimbabwe.

This money was deposited in a box as germ stones to avoid much demurage from
the security company. This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines
and chemicals for the farms and establishment of a new farm in Swaziland.

This land problem came when Zimbabwe President MR. ROBERT MAGABE introduced
a New Land Act reform, which wholly affected the rich white famers and some
few black farmers. This resulted to killing and mob action by Zimbabwean war
veterans and some lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot of people were
killed because of this land reform act for which my FATHER was one of the
victims. It is against this back ground that my family and I who are
currently staying in South Africa decided to transfer my FATHERS money to a
foreign Country since the law of South Africa prohibits refugees to open any
bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction throughout the
territorial zones of South Africa.

As the SON, I am saddled with the reaponsibility of seeking a genuine
foreign account where this money could be transferred into without the
knowledge of my government who are bent on my family. I must also let you
know that this transaction is 100% risk free. If you accept to assist me and
my family, all I want from you is for you to make an arrangements and come
to Johannesburg, South Africa so that you can help me open a non-resident
account in your name which will aid us in transferring the money into any
account you will nominate overseas.

This money I intend to use for investment and growth in your country. I have
two options, firstly you can choose to have certain percentage of the money
for nominating your account for this transaction, or you can go into
partnership with me for proper profitable investment of the money in your
country. Whichever the option you want, feel free to notify me. I have also
mapped out 5% of this money for all kinds of expenses we might incur in the
process of this ransaction.

If you do not prefer a partnership, I am willing to give you 25% of the
total money while remaining 70% will remain for my family and me. If you are
really capable and willing to assist me, please contact ME imimmediately
with the above telephone number with which I have sent you this message.

Finally, please treat this matter as urgent as ossible. I am in dire need to
leave this country
soonest.

Thanks for your mutual co-operation.

I expect your soonest response.

Best regards,

MR GEORGE BENSON
(For the family)

_________________________________________________________________
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