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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: "Serge Safi Abdullah El Nour" <serge_safi0010@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: serge_safi@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2007 12:07:56 +0000
Subject: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Serge Abdallah Safi El Nour
Johannesburg
South Africa
 
Phone: +27 73 008 0012
Contact Email: serge_safi@yahoo.com
 
 
                                                  FAMILY ASSISTANCE 
 
 
Attn: Director,
 
I know that this letter will come to you as a surprise since we have no previous contacts.  Before I proceed, may I introduce myself, I am Mr. Serge Abdallah Safi El Nour from Darfur region in Sudan in North Africa . I am the first son of the late Maj. Gen. Abdallah Safi el Nour: Retired air force pilot and former Governor of North Darfur , 2000-2001; and National Minister in Khartoum 2003-2004. Who was killed for allegedly involved in directing air operations and in the supply of arms to the militias.
 
In April 2005 my father was assassinated by some government soldiers during the war which claimed and left millions of lives hopeless in my country Sudan. He was assassinated all because he was not in support of some of our presidential activities. Presently we are residing in South Africa as refugees (I, my Mother Mrs. Maryam Safi El Nour and my younger Sister.  It is because of our hardship here in South Africa that I on behalf of my mother decided to solicit for your assistance, I know that you are wondering how I got to know you, it was during my search from an international business manual here in South Africa for some one in whom we can reply, some body who will keep to our agreement, who will never imagine to cheat us. 
 
Please we want you to assisting us by providing an account where we can transfer the sum of US$18. 5m (Eighteen Million Five hundred Thousand US dollars) this money is our only remaining hope of living which was left to us by our late father/husband.
 
In my Father's "WILL" he specifically drew our attention to this US$18.5m which he deposited in a safe box with a private security  company in Johannesburg South-Africa as a treasure box fully documented in my name Serge Abdallah Safi El Nour as the first son, as the tradition demands.
 
He said and I quote: "My son, I wish to draw your attention to US$18.5m. (Eighteen Million Five hundred thousand US dollars) that I deposited in a box with a private security company in Johannesburg - South-Africa. That money was all I have labored for throughout my years in active government service. I kept this money with a Security Company in South Africa because I do not know what might happen to me in the future as the civil war rages on" unquote!
In case of my absence here on earth as a result of death only, you should solicit for an assistance of a reliable and sincere  foreign partner to assist you to transfer this money out of South-Africa for investment purpose in his/her country.
I deposited the money in your name and you can claim it alone with the deposit code, your mother has all the documents. Take good care of your mother and your sister. 
 
From the above you will understand that the live and future of my family depends on this money, as such I will be grateful if you can assist us .We are now living in South-Africa as political Asylum-Seekers and financial laws of South-Africa does not allow asylum seekers of certain financial rights to such huge amount of money. In view of this, we cannot invest this money in South-Africa because of our status as refugees 

For your effort we have agreed to offer you 30% of the total fund, while 10% will be set aside for local and international expenses and 60% will be for my family. Finally modalities on how the transfer will be done shall be conveyed to you once we have established trust and confidence between ourselves. Please treat this matter as very urgent. Also send to us your private telephone and fax number for easy communication or you can contact us through this email account: serge_safi@yahoo.com
 
Thanks,
 
Serge Abdallah Safi el Nour,
For the family
 


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