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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: baeThomas Chaka <lingers111@yahoo.es>
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:14:23 -0800
Subject: ( Joint Business Request ) mopf

THOMAS CHAKA
SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK
370 CHURCH STREET,PRETORIA 0002
P.O. BOX 427,PRETORIA, 0001
PRIVATE EMAIL: thomaschaka@katamail.com

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Thomas Chaka. I work as a senior investment consultant for the South Africa Reserve
Bank. I also work as part of the regional team that covers the entire Africa region. I had taken pains to
find your contact through personal endeavours.

Approximately five years ago, an investor (Mr. Smith Baxter-Deceased nine months ago) invested a total
of US$10.5M (Ten Million, five hundred thousand United State Dollars) with my department. With interest
at today’s value, the said invested fund is now worth a little under US$16.5M (Sixteen Million Five
Hundred Thousand United State dollars).

Late Smith Baxter’s Attorney/Lawyer notified my department of the sudden death (Car Accident) of Mr.
Smith Baxter. He (the attorney) also expresses concern that Smith had died without a will and he has no
details of any surviving relatives. The lawyer has now requested my department to check our records to
clarify who Late Smith Baxter may have named as his next of Kin on the investment application.

Fortunately, or rather unfortunately, the person named as next of kin, was his girl friend who also died in
the car accident. I have not yet notified the lawyer that the next of Kin was the girl friend. I virtually have
another seven working days to do so.

Should I notify the lawyer of my findings, automatically, the invested funds will be confiscated by the
South African Government? This I do not mind, my concerns and worries is that the funds once released
from our bank, it will be diverted else where by senior South Africa government functionaries for their
personal gains. On the basis of my worries, my immediate boss and I decided to act fast by contacting
and inviting you to work with us posing as a relative of the deceased.With our insider’s privileged
information, the funds can be paid to you as the only surviving relative. We have all the information and
guidance to enable you and we realize this opportunity. We have evaluated the risk analysis and we are
convinced that the risk element is ZERO, as long as you maintain 100% confidentiality.

As you should understand, I am taking a great risk contacting you and making this proposal. Therefore,
you should understand why I must say no more about this transaction until I receive a an email from you
confirming receipt of this letter.

Once secured communication has been established between you and us, detailed clarifications will be
dealt with,such as what each party stand to benefit and time scale and procedures. Time is not in our
favour. Please establish secured communication with me through any of the above means.

Yours truly

Mr.Thomas Chaka

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