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

Fraud email example:

From: "johan campher" <mrjohancampher@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2006 01:41:45 +0100
Subject: I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE


FROM THE DESK OF:
MR.JOHAN CAMPHER.
BRANCH MANAGER,
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA.

DEAR FRIEND,

Compliments of the season, I am Johan Campher, a Branch manager
of First National Bank in Pretoria, South Africa. A foreign
consultant/Contractor with the Ministry of Solid Minerals here
in South Africa opened a one year fixed deposit account of
[$25.000.000.00USD]Twenty Five Million United States Dollars
with my bank. Some months after he opened the account with us,
he died during a mining explosion in Pretoria.Before his death
on 27th June 2003, I have developed a good relationship with
him. We metin a social club annual end of the year party in
December 2002and I introduced him to my bank where he opened
a fixed deposit account on 5th February 2003, but unfortunately,
he did not disclose any of his next of kin or heir as at the
time of opening the account and my entire attempt in locating
any of his relations proved abortive.

A friend who was formally residing in your country gave me your
contact, though he did not know about this transaction because
I told him that one of my customers in the bank want to invest
in your country and needed someone that is trustworthy to lead
him through. Now, I am contacting you as a foreigner, for you
to stand as the next of kin to the deceased in repatriating the
money he left behind, before it gets confiscated as our bank is
about to declare the account unserviceable.

I will be very grateful if you give me your consent and cooperation,
because this transaction is 100% risk free and will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach
of the law.Meanhile I have concluded every arrangement with a
classmate of mine who is a renowned lawyer and very much-versed
in codicils and will matters. All the information needed and every
vital document in my possession regarding this transaction has been
handed over to him,to enable him acquire the legal documents, which
will confer on you the right over the fund.

You not being a relation to the deceased is not an issue here. All
that we require, is your honesty and cooperation to enable us seeing
this deal through. Upon the completion of this transaction, you
will be entitled to 30 % of the total sum, hence the balance of
70% will be shared among myself, the account officer of the
deceased and the lawyer. Be informed that the process of our bank
releasing the fund will not exceed five working days.Our reason of
given you 30% is to motivate you and also enable you feel satisfied
at the end of the transaction.

Please indicate your interest by responding through my private e-mail
address:(johancampher@excite.com) so that I will give you more
information and also furnish you with all the documents relating to
this transaction. My plan is to invest my own share in Real Estate
and Stock in your country.

Note that this transaction must not be disclosed to a third party.
This is necessary to avoid disclosure that may jeopardize this golden
opportunity and also my official position.

I expect your rapid response.

Best Regard,
Mr.Johan Campher

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