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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million 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)
• 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.
  • +27839535005 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • comradesza1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Lekota" <john1lekota@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 20:10:10 +0200
Subject: Get Back To Me

ENG.JOHN LEKOTA
DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
SOUTH AFRICAN DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORT.
TELEPHONE: + 27 83 953-5005
EMAIL: comradesza1@hotmail.com

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

DEAR Sir/Madam,

Based on the information gathered from the Ministry of Trade and Industry,we
intend to solicit your assistance on this transaction on the assumption that
you will not disappoint us. I am Eng. John
Lekota,Director of project Implementation, South African Department of
Transport.

We have Twenty One Million United States Dollars (US$21,000,000.00) which we
made over time from over inflated contracts in my Department (DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORT) We are seeking your assistance and permission to remit this
amount into your account or any other nominated account you can provide for
us. Your commission will be 20% of the total sum, 5% for expenses and the
remaining 75% is for my colleagues and myself.

Could you please notify me of your acceptance to carry out this transaction
urgently through this mail address (comradesza1@hotmail.com) on the receipt
of this message, Telephone + 27-83-953-5005. I shall in turn inform you of
the modalities for a formal application to secure the necessary approvals
for the immediate release of this fund into your account.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

Engr. John Lekota

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam