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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: zama pat <zamapat17@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 04:23:12 +0200
Subject: ATTENTION:



FROM: MR. PATRICK ZAMA 101 PITZER RD. GLEN JOHANNESBURG , SOUTH AFRICA. TEL: +27 74 196 9290 FAX: +27 86 632 9031 E-MAIL: zamapat@hotmail.com / zamapat@yahoo.co.uk
ATTN: SIR / MADAMI feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business. I choose to reach you through this medium because it still remains the fastest medium of communication. However, this correspondence is unofficial and private, and it should be treated as such. At first I will like to assure you that this transaction is 100% risk and trouble free to both parties. My name is Mr. Patrick Zama, the Chief Auditor of NedBank one of the leading banks in South Africa . There is an account that has not been operational for the past fifteen years as the owner died leaving nobody as the next of kin.My bank shall confiscate the amount in the account (US$18.5Million) Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars by the end of next month if we are not able to track anyone that knows the beneficiary.I want to present you as the next of kin to the former holder of the account to enable us legitimately transfer the sum to your overseas account. If you are interested, I will furnish you with the details that you need to know about the account.I also like to let you know that 25% of the entire amount after the transfer will belong to you, While 75% will be for me which you will transfer to my overseas account. Please get back to me immediately on this so that we act fast and get the money transferred.I await your urgent reply.
Best Regards,

Mr. Patrick Zama
_________________________________________________________________
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