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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. Victor Mpela" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vvictormphela@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:20:34 +0200
Subject: From: Mr. Victor Mpela.

From: Mr. Victor Mpela.
Department of Mineral Resources,
Republic of South Africa
Email: victormphela@gmail.com




Hello!
With great pleasure I write you this letter on behalf of my colleagues.
I got your information from a member of the South African Export Promotion
Council (SAEPC) who was with the Government delegation on a trip to overseas
country for bilateral conference talks to encourage foreign investors.

I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the
deal hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it
confidential because of the nature of this business.
In the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director of
Audit and Project Implementation and with the co-operation of three other top
officials,we have in our possession an overdue payment funds. The said funds
represent certain percentage of the total contract value executed on behalf of
my Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we the officials over-invoiced
to the amount of US$28.500,000.00 (Twenty Eight Million Five Hundred
Thousand US Dollars)though the actual contract cost has been paid to the original
contractor,leaving the excess balance unclaimed.

Since the present Government is determined to pay all foreign contractor's
debts owed in order to maintain good relationship with foreign governments and
non-governmental agencies. We intend to include our bills for approvals
with the Department of Finance and the Contracts Award and Payments Committee.

So we are seeking your assistance to front as beneficiary of the unclaimed funds,
since we are not allowed to operate foreign accounts. Details and change of
beneficiary information upon application for claim to reflect payment and approvals
will be secured on behalf of you/your company.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be
willing to assist us in this transaction your share as compensation
will be so negotiated and agreed upon by both you and we on this side, before
further details will change hands to enhance our primary objective.

The mode of sharing after a successful transfer of the money into your account,
shall be 70% to my colleagues and I, for the role you will be expected to play
in this deal, we have agreed to give you 25% of the total sum and 5% for the
expenses we are going to encounter by the two parties at the course of this transaction.

The business is completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with utmost
confidentiality. It does not matter whether you/your company does
contract projects as a transfer of powers will be secured in favor of you/your
company to settle any legality. 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 us.

I expect your urgent response to enable us conclude this transaction urgently
without any hitch. Kindly notify me via my email for further details upon your
acceptance of this proposal with email account above.


Thanks for your co-operation.


Regards,


Mr. Victor Mpela

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