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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: "MMMSS" <r.robertwright@gmx.com>
Reply-To: <robertwright@gala.net>
Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2010 17:15:56 +0200
Subject: I have an urgent and very confidential business for you

Dear,
I am Mr. Robert Wright, Bank Manager of a Reputable bank in Pretoria Republic of South Africa. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On Feb. 27, 2001, a British Contractor with the South African Mining Corporation, (Name deliberately with held) made a numbered time(Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the South African Mining Corporation, that the depositor died from an automobile accident.
 
On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that the depositor did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents,US$50,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of Republic of South Africa, at the expiration of 15(Fifteen) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the South African Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as THE NEXT OF KIN to the depositor so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.
A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60%for me and 35% for you and 5% for any expenses that we are going to incur which will be deducted after the transaction. There is no risk at all and if you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your full name, age, occupation, address, confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communication and also, please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. Call me or send me an email with the above contact details for confirmation as soon as you receive this letter.<
Thanks and Regards.
Mr. Robert Wright

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