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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:
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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:
  • "demurrage " (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. )
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
  • +27735237703 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
  • +27865386390 (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.
  • benjamin19602002@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: benjamin brown <benjamin19602002@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:53:17 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM BENJAMIN



>From Benjamin savimbi
104 Livonia roads,
Sandton Johannesburg
South Africa
TEL: +27-73-523-77-03
EMAIL:+27-86-538-63-90
E-mail benjamin19602002@yahoo.com
 
ATTEN: DIRECTOR C.E.O

DEAR: SIR/MADAM 
                                          
                                      URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL
 
May I use this opportunity to introduce my self as Benjamin savimbi? I am the son of the late Mr. Great Jonas savimbi, the leader of the Angolan revolutionary group known as the (UNITA), who died while on active duty in an effort to liberate our people.I am contacting you with the believe that we will develop a cordial business relationship which will be beneficial to both parties.
 
Before the death of my father, he took me to South Africa to deposit the sum of US$8.5.000.000.(Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with a Security &Finance Company, as he knew the looming danger in Angola. The money was deposited as gem of precious stones to avoid much demurrage from the Security Company. The money came about as result of my late father¢s business trips to procure military hardware in, which he conducts with South Africa Arms Company. We mine diamond to prosecuting the war because we have control over the diamond deposited area of our country. The diamonds was always exported to South Africa Arms Company
 
My family and I has moved to South Africa where we are currently residing as asylum seekers, lately when we decided to invest this money here in South Africa, we discovered that the laws of this country prohibit asylum seekers the right to investment or to operate any form of bank account. Hence I contacted you to assist us in transferring this money out of South Africa to your overseas account for our investment.
 
I must let you know that this business is 100% risk-free. The nature of your business does not necessarily matter in this transaction. So, if you are willing and interested to assist us, my family and I have agreed to give you 25% of the total sum for your assistance, 70% will be for my family investment in your country and the remaining 5% will be mapped out for all expenses we may incur during the course of the transaction.
 
Note that you would also assist us in investing our own share of the money in your country. If you are interested to assist us in this business, we need your urgent reply through the above Telephone and Email Address. Do not forget to include your private telephone and fax numbers for easier communication.
Please, treat this business proposal with absolute confidentiality.
 
Best Regards,
 
Benjamin Savimbi
 
 

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam