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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • sammontsi@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "sam montsi" <sammontsi19@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:23:33 +0000
Subject: Mr. SAM MONTSI urgent fund transfer into your account

ECRET/PRIVATE
#20 BOTHA CRESCENT
SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
email: sammontsi@hotmail.com
Tele:27 -823-927-999

I know that this message will come to you as a surprise since we don't know
each other before, but
For purpose of introduction. I am Mr. SAM MONTSI the Bank Manager of
Amalgamated Bank of
South Africa (ABSA)? There is an account opened in this bank in 1998 and
since 2002 no body has operated on this account again.

After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do
not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing.

The owner of this account is Mr. Smith B. Andreas, a foreigner, and a Miner
at Kruger Gold Company, a Geologist by profession and he died since 2001. No
other person knows about this account or anything concerning it, the account
has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me very well that
his company does not know anything about this account and the amount
involved isUS$15.5 Million (fifteen million five hundred thousand United
States Dollars).

I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be
approved to a local bank here, but can only be approved to any foreign
account because the money is in US Dollars and the former owner of the
account is Mr. Smith B. Andreas is a foreigner too.

I know that this message will come to you as a surprise as we don't know
ourselves before. We will sign an agreement, but be sure that it is real and
a genuine business.


Please reply urgent so that I will inform you the next step to take
immediately. Send also your private telephone and fax number including the
full details of the account to be used for the deposit.

I want us to meet face to face or sign a binding agreement to bind us
together so that you can receive this money into a foreign account or any
account of your choice where the fund will be safe.

And I will fly to your country for withdrawal and sharing and other
investments.
I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner with foreign
account and foreign beneficiary.

I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the management
is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner, who has correct
information of this account, which I will give to you later, if you are able
and willing to handle such amount in strictly confidence and trust according
to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefit because this
opportunity will never come again in my life.

I need truthful person in this business because I don't
Want to make mistake, I need your strong assurance and trust.


With my position now in the office I can transfer this money to any
foreigner reliable account, which you can provide with assurance that this
money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your country for
sharing.

I will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this
money leaving no trace to any place.

You can also come to discuss with me face to face after which I will make
this remittance in your presence and two of us will fly to your country at
least two days ahead of the money going into the account.

I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately I need to hear from
you that you are ready to act and receive this fund in your account.

I will use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward
transfer of this money to your account with appropriate Clearance, Forms of
the Ministries and Foreign Exchange Departments.


At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 25% of the total
amount, 70% will be for me, and while 5% will be for expenses both parties
might have incurred during the process of transferring.

I look forward to your earliest.
BEST REGARDS

Mr. SAM MONTSI

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam