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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: "Maxwell Ubanko" <maxwelubanko01ruli@netscape.net>
Date: Thu, 11 May 2006 17:59:33 -0500
Subject: YOUR URGENT FUND TRANSFER ASSISTANT IS NEEDED PLEASE

Dear sir/madam,

With warm heart I offer my friendship, and my greetings, and I hope this
letter meets you in good time. It will be surprising for you to receive this
proposal from me since you do not know me personally.
However, I am sincerely seeking your confidence in this transaction, which
I propose with my free mind and as a person of integrity.

My name is Maxwell Ubanko the first son of Dr Steven Ubanko a farmer from
Zimbabwe, murdered in the land dispute. As led by my instinct
, I decided to contact you through LETTER as it is the only means I can
contact anybody since I am cutting off ties with Zimbabwe for security and
safety reasons. However, I apologize if this is not acceptable to you.

The purpose of this letter is to seek your most needed assistance in a
business venture. Due to the land and political problems in Zimbabwe, as a
result of President Robert Mugabe's introduction of new Land Act Reform
wholly affecting the rich white farmers and the few rich black farmers, and
his desire to hold on to power for life, my father foresaw the danger that
is coming to Zimbabwe. Before he was murdered, he withdrew all of our
business foreign accounts in dollars to Johannesburg, South Africa to
deposit the sum of US$14 millions(Fourteen million, US dollars), in a
private security company.
This money was deposited with this Private Security Company for safety and
security reasons, and was to be used for the purchase of land, new machines
and chemicals establishment of new farms in Botswana.

I am currently staying in The Netherlands where I am seeking political
asylum. In fact my decision to come here to seek asylum, is because the
financial company from South Africa, has a branch here, and they have moved
the deposited fund from their office in Johannesburg to Netherland

Since the law of The Netherlands prohibits a refugee (asylum seeker) to
open any bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction,
this is why I am seeking your help as a reliable partner, If you accept to
assist me, we shall negotiate your percentage of the total sum of the fund
as my partner.

All I want you to do for me, is to assist with arrangements to claim the
deposit from the financial institution, from their office here in
The Netherlands, as it has now been transferred from Johannesburg, South
Africa to their branch here.
The company will be legally informed of you representing me.Please, I want
you to maintain the absolute secrecy for the purpose of this transaction.
I look forward to your reply and co-operation, and I thank you in advance
as I anticipate your co-operation,
I will like if you reply with my email address which is
maxwelubanko@netscape.net

Thanks you sir,
Maxwell Ubanko


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