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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: "Mr. Richard Umebe" <rumebei_char33@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <umeberichar@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 05:34:00 +0100
Subject: introduction to project implementation



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

Dear Sir/Madam,

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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