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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: DAVID THAMBO <david_thambo005@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:04:35 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE



DEAR FRIEND,I AM MR. DAVID THAMBO, MANAGER OF BILLS / EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF OLD MUTUAL BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA. IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF US$15,500,000(FIFTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS ONLY) IN AN ACCOUNT BELONGING TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMER WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON MONDAY, 31ST OF JULY 2000, IN A GHASTLY PLANE CRASH.SINCE HIS DEATH WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT OF KIN TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS FUNDS, WE CANNOT RELEASE IT UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIED FOR IT AS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATIVE TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDING PRINCIPLES. UNFORTUNATELY NOBODY HAS COME TO CLAIM THIS FUNDS.SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stmIT IS BASED ON THIS THAT SOME OFFICIALS IN MY DEPARTMENT AND I HAVE DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A CORDIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, HENCE MY CONTACTING YOU, WE WANT YOU TO PRESENT YOURSELF AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATIVE OF THE DECEASED SO THAT THE FUNDS CAN BE REMITTED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. MOREOVER, WE DO NOT WANT THE MONEY TO GO INTO THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT AS UNCLAIMED BILL.THE BANKING GUIDING PRINCIPLES HERE STIPULATED THAT ANY ACCOUNT ABANDONED OR DORMANT FOR A THESE PERIODS OF TIME IS DEEMED CLOSED, AND ALL FUNDS CONTAINED THEREIN FORFEITED TO THE GOVERNMENT TREASURY ACCOUNT. NOW IT IS BEING SPECULATED THAT THE ABOVE SUM BE TRANSFERED INTO THE GORVENMENT ACCOUNT AS AN UNCLAIMED FUND ON AUGUST 2007. THE REASON FOR REQUESTING YOU TO PRESENT YOURSELF AS NEXT OF KIN IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE DECEASED (CUSTOMER) WAS A FOREIGNER.THE MODE OF SHARING AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT IS 70% TO MY COLLEAGUES AND ME, FOR THE ROLE YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO PLAY IN THIS DEAL, WE HAVE AGREED TO GIVE YOU TWENTY FIVE PERCENT (25%) OF THE TOTAL SUM, AND FIVE PERCENT (5%) FOR THE EXPENSES WE ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER AT THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION. THEREFORE, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO REPLY THIS LETTER INDICATING YOUR READINESS AND INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS BUSINESS. AFTER RECEIVING YOUR REPLY, YOU WILL BE CONTACTED AGAIN WITH THE EXACT STEPS TO TAKE.TO ENABLE US CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION URGENTLY. PLEASE TREAT THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AS POSSIBLE FOR SECURITY REASONS.PLEASE I AM EXPECTING YOUR URGENT RESPONSE VIA EMAIL: davidthambo_2007@myway.comKIND REGARDS,MR. DAVID THAMBO
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