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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: "cyrilramaphosa" <rama_cyril@verizonmail.com>
Date: Mon, 08 May 2006 01:55:05 -1200
Subject: GREETINGS MY DEAR FRIEND

ATTN:(HANDLE THIS INFORMATION SECRETLY)

Dear,

I hereby contact you personally concerning the situation in
my bank. In order to transfer out {us$43,000,000} fourty
three million us dollars, I have the courage to look for a
reliable and honest person who will be capable for this
important business believing that you will never let me
down either now or in future.
I am Cyril Ramaphosa, i am a director in(STANDARD BANK OF
SOUTH AFRICA) JOHANNESBURG BRANCH (SBSA). There is an
account opened in this bank in 1985 and since 1992 nobody
has operated on this account again. After
going through some old files in the records I discovered
that if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be
forfeited for nothing according to South Africa laws and
act of 1993,the money will be revert this country
government treasury after 15 years if there is no valid
claim. I need a foreign partner that will present as a
relative to this late man.
I concluded to transfer this money overseas for proper
investment that will benefit me and you. The owner of this
account
is Mr. MARCUS KHAN, a foreigner, and a Miner at Kruger
Gold Co. a geologist by profession and he died since 1992.
No other person knows about this account or any thing
concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my
investigation proved to me as well that this company does
not know anything about this account and the amount
involved is us$43,000,000 Fourty three million dollars.
I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money
can not be approved to a local bank here, but can only be
approved to any foreign account because the money is in US
dollars and the former owner of the account is Mr. MARCUS
KHAN,
who is a foreigner too.
I know that this message will come to you as a surprise as
we don?t know ourselves before, we will sign agreement, but
be sure that it is real and a fund. I only got your contact
address from my secretary during a normal routine search, i
believe in God that you will never let me down in this
business, you are the only person that I have contacted in
this business, so please reply urgently so that I will
inform you the next step to take urgently. Send also your
private telephone and fax number . I want us to
meet face to face or sign a binding agreement to bind us
together so that you can receive this money into a foreign
account or any account of your choice where the fund will
be safe.
I am contacting you because of the need to involve a
foreigner with foreign account and foreign beneficiary. I
need your full co-operation to make this work fine. Because
the management is ready to approve this payment to any
foreigner who has correct information of this account,
which I will give to you later immediately, if you are
able and capable to handle such amount in strict confidence
and trust according to my instructions and advice for our
mutual benefit. I need a truthful person in this business
because I don't want to make mistake and I need your strong
assurance and trust. With my position now in the office I
can transfer this money to any foreigner's reliable
account, which you can provide with assurance that this
money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your
country for sharing. I will destroy all documents of
transaction immediately we receive this money leaving no
trace to any place. You can also come to discuss with me
face to face after which I will make this remittance in
your presence.
I will use my position and influence to effect legal
approvals and onward transfer of this money to your account
with appropriate clearance forms of the ministries and
foreign exchange departments.
At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 50%of
the total amount, 50%will be for me and my family, I look
forward to your earliest reply through my email address.

Yours truly,
Cyril Ramaphosa.
STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA

NOTE: you can aswell write me through my alternative
email address:(cyril_ramaphossa@verizonmail.com)



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