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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: "Mr.Richard Umebe" <uericchard30@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: umeberichar@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 20:24:20 +0100
Subject: introduction to project implementation

Ministry of Mineral and Energy.
Department of Mineral and Energy (DME)
Pretoria, Republic of South Africa

Dear Christiansen,

I am Mr. Richard Umebe , Director of Project, South Africa
Department of Mineral and Energy. I am making this contact with
you based on the committee's need for an individual/company who
is willing to assist us with a solution to a money transfer.

First and foremost apologized using this medium to reach you for a
transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to
Confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium. In
unfolding this proposal, I want to count on you, as a respected and
honest person to handle this transaction with sincerity, trust and
confidentiality.

I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the
execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all
parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret because of the
nature of this transaction.

Within the Ministry of Mining and Natural Resources where I work as
Director of Project Implementation and with the Co-operation of
four other top officials, we have in our possession as overdue
payment bills totaling Fourteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollar(US$14,500,000.) which we want to transfer
abroad with the assistance and cooperation of a foreign
company/individual to receive the said fund on our behalf or a
reliable foreign non-company account to receive such funds.

More so, we are handicapped in the circumstances,as the South
Africa Civil Service Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate
offshore account hence your importance in the whole transaction.
This amount $14.5m represents the balance of the total contract
value executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting
firm, which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately.

Though the actual contract cost have been paid to the original
contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which
we have in principles gotten approval to remit by Key tested
Telegraphic Transfer (K.T.T) to any foreign bank account you will
provide by filing in an application through the Ministry of Justice
here in South Africa for the transfer of rights and privileges of the
former contractor to you.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should
you be willing to assist us in the transaction, your share of the total
sum will be 20% of the $14.5 million, 70% for us and 5% for taxation
and Miscellaneous expenses and while balance 5% will go to charity
organization. The business itself is 100%safe, on your part provided
you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality. Also your area
of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of
this transaction.

I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not
disappoint me.Endeavor to contact me immediately through my
private Phone NO +27-72-0446181, to confirm whether or not you
are interested in this deal. If you are not, it will enable I scout for
another foreign partner to carryout this deal.

I want to assure you that my partners and I are in a position to make
the payment of this claim possible provided you can give us a very
strong assurance. And also to guarantee that our share will be
secured and please, remember to treat this matter very confidential,
because we will not comprehend with any form of exposure as we
are still in active Government Service.

Once again, remember that time is of great essence in this
transaction.

Wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Richard Umebe

_________________________________________________________________
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