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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.

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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +27837107741 (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.
  • maxwellkomo01@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: maxwell komo <maxwellkomo8@msn.com>
Reply-To: <maxwellkomo01@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:40:24 +0000
Subject: FROM DR MAXWELL KOMO




AUDITOR GENERAL DEPARTMENT (FNB).
3/5 RIDER HAGGARD
CLOSE, JO, BORG
SOUTH AFRICA.
Tel: +27-83-710-7741
E-mail:maxwellkomo01@hotmail.com

Dear Sir/Madam

With due honor and respect, I introduce myself to you for a better relationship. I am DR MAXWELL KOMO, CHIEF AUDITOR of FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA (F.N.B). Your contact is courtesy of Business online network via Internet as I decided to contact you for this beneficial transaction that is 100% risk free, and I prayed to GOD to direct me to an TRUSTWORTHY, HONEST AND RELIABLE person that will help me in this business, and I will be very happy to have you as my partner.

During auditing, verifications/investigations in our bank at the end of last fiscal (financial) year, I discovered the sum of (US$26M} TWENTY SIX MILLION UNITEDSTATES DOLLARS in a dormant account belonging to Mr. CHARLES NEMAN, a German international businessman who died along with his family in the November 5th, 2005 plane crash in Abidjan west Africa. Our investigations revealed no survival or NEXT OF KIN/RELATIONS for claims as we have long been expecting someone to forward applications for claims as it applies to our banking regulations. Information / verifications from reliable sources confirmed that his supposed “NEXT OF KINS” died with him in the crash. Hence this for your perusals.

However, I kept this information (SECRET) confidential within my jurisdiction to enable us submit claims and transfer this fund through trustworthy person whom we shall present to our bank as the BONAFIDE “NEXT OF KIN” to the deceased. We intend to credit this fund into any of your nominated (designated) offshore bank account for investments. Meanwhile, all domestic arrangements for claims have been put in place awaiting your acceptance to participate.

I will give you directives and all needed information as soon as I receive your positive response. Kindly understand that we could not carry out this on our own as based on the simple facts that we are civil servants and secluded from operating foreign account and too, it will raise eyebrows on our side in terms of transfer being staff of the bank. Moreover, this fund belongs to a foreigner and demands same as next of kin to claim it. Hence your contact for successful operation.. My colleagues and I has resolved to offering you 20% of the total sum as commission, we will invest 75% of our share in your country provided it is profit oriented. 5% of the total fund will be set aside to reimburse all expenses to be incurred in the course of running this transaction such as telephone and other minor expenses. I am assuring you of a smooth and successful transaction provided you display maturity and observe
Confidentiality.

And it will interest you to know that the Reserve Bank (Apex) will approve credit of this fund into your account as contract payment to abstain you from all queries regarding the source (originality) of this fund and will provide you (beneficiary)with contractual (data) details to certify your bank or government if the need arises. Therefore, be kind to clarify the following for my consideration:

1. Can your account accommodate this fund in your local bank without government intervention or do you have an account outside your country where you may consider safe for this fund?

2. What are taxation in your country like as I desire a low/free tax zone?

3. What are the interest rates on long/short term fixed deposit in your local banks?

4. What other lucrative investments would you suggest as I intend banking, real estate and hotels if they are good business venture in your Country?.

5. Can you be able to make residential documents and purchase a house for me and my family to relocate and settle in your ountry after the transaction?

Kindly give me the following information’s.

1,Full Names
2,House or Office Address
3,Nationality
4,Occupation
5,Age.
6, Sex,
7,Tel and Fax Numbers for more efficient communication and reply me at my alternative email: address:maxwellkomo01@hotmail.com looking forward to your anticipated urgent response.

Best regards,
DR MAXWELL KOMO.
Mobile Tel Number:27-83-710-77-41

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam