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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: "Engr. Sage Mothibi" <mothsage@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2015 16:30:51 +0600
Subject: GOOD DAY




SUBJECT:CONFIDENTIAL
Telephone: 0027- 74 535 7008
Email: mothsage@gmail.com

Hello, Sir

After my official enquiry from the foreign trade office of the
chambers of commerce & industry here in Johannesburg South Africa, I
decided to contact you but I did not disclose the intention to anyone
else because of the delicate nature of the project and decided
to reach you directly to solicit for your assistance and
guidelines in making a business investment and transfer of
US$25,500,000.00 (twenty-five million Five Hundred US dollars) to your
country within the next few days. Please, i must plead for your
confidence in this transaction.
I work with the Department of(agriculture. land reform& rural
development) in Johannesburg. I am currently in need of a silent foreign
partner whose identity we can use to transfer this sum of money. But at
this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this
profitable business investment until I get your response by
email,This fund accrued from over inflated contract executed by foreign
contractors, through our private connections. The fund is presently
waiting to be remitted from a commercial bank in South Africa.
By virtue of my positions as civil servants in my country i cannot acquire
this money in my name. Because as high placed civil servant, i am not
allowed by the civil service code of conduct to own or operate bank
accounts outside of our shores. On the other hand, it is not safe for us
to keep the money here due to security reason. I have decided to
look for an overseas silent partner who could work with me to
facilitate transfer of this fund for our mutual benefit, hence the reason
for this email.
My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be
shared as follows: 25% to you as commission for your co-operation
and assistance in facilitating the transfer, 5% set aside for expenses
while the remaining 70% belongs to me and my colleagues involved. You
will be free to take out your commission immediately after the
money hits your account in your country. Since our objective is to invest
the money in a foreign country, it would be appreciated if you could
also help us with advice and direction on investing into
profitable ventures in your country.
The funds are with a commercial bank special account and I can send you
details of the account to convince you that this transaction is
real. All we need to do is give you an approval from the
ministry and you email the approval for transfer of the funds to
the bank and the funds will be processed and transferred into
your bank account. If you can handle this please forward to me
your contact details.

Regards,

ENGR. SAGE MOTHIBI



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