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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: FREDERICK BUNDALA <fredbundala@fsmail.net>
Reply-To: fredbundala@aim.com
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 04:56:27 +0200
Subject: Dear One.


Dear Friend,

How are you and your family today? I hope that you are all okay? I found information about you and decided to contact you for an important assistance. I am Frederick Bundala, a citizen of Zimbabwe, but I am writing from Europe.

I am the only son of Prince Daniel Bundala, a wealthy farmer and senior politician with the opposition political party in my country, Movement for Democratic Change [MDC].My father was murdered by our wicked President, Robert Mugabe and I fled my country because I have become his next target to eliminate.

My father was a fighter for Justice and a moving force in the MDC, a Party wanting to end the several years of brutal dictatorship government of President Robert Mugabe.My father was accused of Treason and also aiding the White farmers in fighting the government. Few weeks after his arrest, he was reported dead. The government claimed he died of heart attack and his body was never seen for proper autopsy. They buried him in the government cemetery. My father's associate Mr. Martin Olds a White farmer from Britain assisted me in fighting my father's death through the Court and media; the government saw us as a big treat to them and decided to eliminate us. Mr. Olds was attacked and murdered in his house, but fortunately, before they came looking for me, I received the news and I had to flee through the border to South Africa to save my life. My arrival here in Europe still remains like a miracle to me.

Here are my reasons for contacting you: I need to bring my family and that of Mr. Olds out of Zimbabwe as soon as possible before any more harm is done to them. I have a huge sum of money presently in Europe. My father kept this money with a Security and Trust Company in Johannesburg, South-Africa, for obvious security reasons and the situation in my country. He kept these funds in one trunk box in disguise as family treasures, meaning that the Security Company management is not aware of the real content of the box.My father's farms and bank accounts were seized by the government before his arrest and murder.

He told me everything concerning the funds in the security company while he was still in detention and I have made several contacts with the security company concerning the release of the boxes to me.I was on the process when I fled the country and have communicated with them when I arrived here.I need your assistance in securing the funds in The United Kingdom or in your country, so that I can arrange for my family and that of the Olds to join me here in Nederland. I am willing to offer you 20% of the total amount involved for your assistance.

Please, let me know if you can assist me, so that I can give you more details on how we shall proceed. As I await your urgent response,please treat this information as top secret. Always reply me with myprivate email address fredbundala@aim.com
Thank you and God bless.

My mother is aware of my plans, as I am sending her copy of this letter.

Regards,

Frederick Bundala.

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