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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)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "trunk boxes" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +27788621078 (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.
  • mrsmarymabasa2@ommail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mrsmarymabasa2@ommail.com" <mrsmarymabasa2@ommail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:27:44 -0500
Subject: [ SPAM ] business proposal


Dear Sir/Madam,
Family assistance needed
Greetings, with due respect trust and humility, I use this
medium to write this letter to you irrespective of the fact
that you do not know me but please do consider this letter
as a request from a widow in dare need of assistance. Let me
formerly introduce myself; I am Mrs. Mary .Mabasa, wife of
late Sir Solomon A. Mabasa, the renowned Zimbabwean Wine and
Cattle Ranch farmer. I got your contact courtesy of a
business publication in my earnest search for a reliable and
trustworthy individual/company who can render me assistance.


During the war waged against the farmers in Zimbabwe by the
supporters and cohorts of President Robert Mugabe to claim
all the white owned farms in our country, my late husband
belonged to one of the classes of farmers targeted by the
ZANU-PF armed group because he did not support their ideas
and policies. In the course of the revolution in the
country, the ZANU-PF armed group attacked and invaded my
husband's farms, burning, destroying and eventually killing
him. After my husband's death last year, I managed to escape
the boundaries of Zimbabwe into South Africa with my only
surviving son - Edvic Mabasa because our lives were
threatened and Zimbabwe was no longer safe for us.


Prior to my husband's untimely death, he had earlier
informed me of one big trunk boxes containing Eighteen
million dollars (US$18,000,000.00) cash, and other
valuables, which he deposited with a Security company in
South Africa, with the assistance of his good friend who is
also a farmer in south Africa. Presently, I am residing
temporarily in South Africa with my only surviving son -
Edvic Mabasa as political asylum seekers / refugees.

At the moment, I am in a dilemma on how to move this money
to your country for proper investments. I then spoke to my
late husband's friend who resides in South Africa and he
assured me that the safest way to move this money is for you
to come to south Africa and open an investment account in
your name where the money will be deposited for onward
transfer to your account in your country. In recognition of
your personal executive powers and investment opportunities
that abound in your country, I decided to solicit for your
assistance in moving this money to your country pending my
future arrival for investments.

I have resolved to compensate you adequately if you can
assist us by coming to south Africa for the purpose of this
transaction. I have in mind to establish a good business and
friendly relationship with you in the near future if you are
able to help us. Please let me receive your approval or
reply through my email: mrsmarymabasa2@ommail.com or my
telephone number+27-78-862-1078 feel free to ask questions
you may consider relevant. If you will not be able to assist
us, be kind and notify me so that I can look for a suitable
alternative.

Accept my warm compliments, as I earnestly await your urgent
response.

Best Regards

Mary Mabasa {Mrs.}


____________________________________________________
S Naidu Online Web Designing, Domain Name Registration, Web Hosting, Email Solutions,
Ecommerce website development, http://www.snaidu.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam