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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Fraud email example:

From: "ENGR, ANTHONY THABO" <anthony_thabo@techemail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: engineer_thabo@techemail.com
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 17:49:51 -0700
Subject: FROM DIRECTOR

FROM: ENGR Thabo
DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
SOUTH AFRICAN DEPARTMENTOF TRANSPORT AND AVIATION
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Dear Sir/Madam,
Based on the information gathered from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, we intend to solicit your assistance on this transaction on the assumption that you will not disappoint us. I am Engr A.Thabo, Director of project Implementation, South African Department ofTransport and Aviation.
We have Twenty One Million United States Dollars(US$21,000,000.00) which we made over time from over inflated contracts in my Department (DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORT AND AVIATION) we are seeking your assistance and permission to remit this amount into your account or any other nominated account you can provide for us.
Your commission will be 20% of the total sum, 5% for expenses and the remaining 75% is for my colleagues and me.

Could you please notify me of your acceptance to carry out this transaction urgently on receipt of this message by E-mail,Telephone + 27- 423-3207
shall in turn inform you of the modalities for a formal application to secure the necessary approvals for the immediate release of this fund into your account.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Yours faithfully,
ENG Anthony Thabo




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