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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447031923033 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: rolandkab0@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2006 21:08:58 +0200
Subject: please assist my family

From:smith Family
Tel: +447031923033 fax+ 448703890213
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
Dear Sir,
You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me personally;
For the purpose of introduction, I am roland smith, the first son of Morrison smith ,
who was recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I decided to write you to seek
your assistance for the transfer of a family fund.
Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of US$17.5Million
(Seventeen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), in one of the private security
company, as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was deposited in a box as germ
stones to avoid much demurrage from Security Company. This amount was meant for the purchase of new
machines and chemicals for the farms and establishment of new farm in Swaziland.
This land problem came when Zimbabwean President Mr. Robert Mugabe introduce a new Land Act reform
which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few blacks farmers. And this resulted to the
killing and mob action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot
of people were killed because of this land reformed Act for which my father was one of the victim.
It is against this background that, I and my family who are currently staying in England decided to
transfer my father’s money to a foreign account since the law of South Africa prohibits a refugee
(asylum seeker) to open any bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction throughout the
territorial zone of South Africa. As the eldest son of my father, Iam saddle with the responsibility of
seeking a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred without the knowledge of my
government who are bent on taking everything we have got. The South African government seems to be playing
along with them. I am faced with the dilemma of investing this amount of money in South Africa for fear of
going through the same experience in future since both countries have similar political history. Moreover,
the South African Foreign Exchange policy does not allow such investment for an asylum seeker.
As I intend to entrust my future and that of my family in your hands, I must let you know that this
transaction is 100% risk free. If you accept to assist me and my family all I want you to do for me is
to make arrangements and come to Johannesburg South Africa, so that you can open a non-resident Transmission
account which will aid us in transferring the money into any account you will nominate overseas. This money
I intend to use for investment.
I have two options for you; firstly you can choose to have certain percentage of the money for nominating
your account for this transaction. Or you can go into partnership with me for the proper profitable
investment of the money in your country. Whichever the options you want, feel free to notify me I
have also mapped out 5% of this money for all kinds of expenses incurred in the process of this transaction.
If you do not prefer a partnership I am willing to give you 30% of the money while the remaining 65% will be
for my investment in your country.
Contact me with the above telephone or fax numbers above while Implore you to maintain the absolute secrecy
required in this transaction.
Yours Faithfully,
Roland smith
(For the family)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam