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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: "KOLBE ATTWOOD" <attwoodkb3@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: kbattwood@excite.com
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 19:06:54 +0200
Subject: Your assistance needed.

Kolbe Attwood,
Minerals and Energy Dept,
Pretoria,
South Africa.
CORPORATE TEL/ Fax No: +27-11-5075276

Good Day,

INVESTMENT CONCEPT
First, I must solicit for your trust and strictest confidence in this
transaction; this is by nature of its high priority. Your particulars were
given to us by a mutual acquaintance.

I am the Director of Engineering & Projects in the Department of Minerals
and Energy, Pretoria , South Africa . I am seeking your assistance to enable
my committee (Contract Award Committee) transfer the sum of $18,850,000.00
(Eighteen Million, Eight Hundred & Fifty Thousand United States Dollars)
into a private company/individual account for mutual benefits. This money
came about as a result of a contract that was executed on behalf of my
Department (D.M.E.) in 2001. This contract was initially assigned to be
awarded and executed by two foreign contractors at the tune of
US$70,850,000.00 (Seventy Million, Eight Hundred & Fifty Thousand US
Dollars), but in the course of our negotiation, we bargained with only one
contractor, a Bulgarian firm which now executed the contract at the cost of
US$52,000,000.00 (Fifty-Two Million US Dollars), thus leaving the difference
(US$18.85m) floating in an escrow account of the D.M.E. to the benefit of
our five-man committee unknown to any other person in my Ministry. This
contract has been satisfactorily executed and inspected as the Bulgarian
firm has secured her payment from the D.M.E.

It is however to this effect that I seek your maximum assistance and
approval to present you/your company name as the second contractor to enable
us transfer the difference (US$18.85m) into your account for further
investment depending on your advice.

On actualization of the transaction, the funds will be shared thus:
1. 10% goes for reimbursement for taxation and miscellaneous
expenses.
2. 25% goes to you for acting as the beneficiary of the funds.
3. 65% to us members of the Contract Award Committee.

The disbursement pattern still remains the same as the agreed percentage if
taxation in your country takes a toll of the total sum.
All logistics are in place and all modalities worked out for the smooth
actualization of the transaction within (5-7) working days of its
commencement. It is pertinent to state here that this business is 100%
risk-free and entirely based on trust.

Should you be willing to assist us, send a fax to my direct Fax Line: + 27
-11 5075276 or email to (kbattwood@excite.com) and furnish me with your
private phone and fax numbers to enhance communication between both parties.

I await your positive response.
Yours Faithfully,
Kolbe Attwood

_________________________________________________________________
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