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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:

• 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)
• 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.
  • +27783285629 (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.
  • siphomohau@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "simiso mohau" <simisofma@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Nov 2006 10:50:34 +0200
Subject: Please call mr. sipho mohau.

Dear Sir/Madam,

First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction. I am a high
placed official working with Department of Finance (& Economic Affairs), in
Johannesburg South Africa. I and two other colleagues are currently in need
of a silent foreign partner whose identity we can use to transfer the sum of
Six Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. dollars. This fund accrued
legitimately to us as commission from foreign contracts, through our private
connections.

The fund is presently waiting to be remitted from ABSA bank here in South
Africa to any overseas beneficiary confirmed by us as associate/receiver. By
virtue of our positions as civil servants in my country, we cannot acquire
this money in our names. Because as high placed civil servants, we are 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 unstable political environment. I have been mandated as a
matter of trust by my colleagues, to look for an overseas silent partner who
could work with us to facilitate transfer of this fund for our mutual
benefit, hence the reason for this email.

What I am requesting from you is: (1) to be our silent partner and receive
the funds as the sole benefactor to the contract amount which we shall
secure all legal documentation to authenticate our claim. (2)Provide a
private telephone and fax number for easy communication under your
control.(3)Receive the funds as the beneficiary, take out your commission
and keep the rest of the money until I arrive there to meet you after the
transfer is completed.

My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be shared as
follows: (1) 15% to you as commission for your co-operation and assistance
in facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 85% belongs to me and two
colleagues. 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 advices and direction on investing into profitable
ventures in your country.

However, this is optional, and if it is not convenient for you to further
assist us with investing the money, we can end our cooperation after you
make available to me our part of the money. The transaction, although
discrete, is legitimate and the money will be transferred successful with
all necessary back-up official documents showing legitimate source/origin of
fund. The transfer will be effected within a period not longer than two
weeks as soon as we reach an agreement and you furnish me with a suitable
response indicating your interest for processing the transfer. I plead with
you on one issue, whether you are interested or not, kindly do not expose
this information to any one else. I confirm that the transaction is
legitimate and without any risks either to us or yourself. Please, give me
your response immediately by return mail through my alternative email
address:
siphomohau@hotmail.com

Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Sipho Mohau.
My Direct/Private Telephone number.
+ 27 78 328 5629.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam