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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: edwardsibanda@netscape.net
Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2005 00:33:31 +0200
Subject: Humble Assistance!!

From the Desk of: Dr Edward Sibanda.
Director, Audit & Project Implementation

DEPARTMENT OF MINING & NATURAL RESOURCES.

Tel: 0027-835 050 636.
Fax: 0027-725 959 810.


STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL & URGENT.

Dear Sir,

I am Edward Sibanda, a native of Cape Town in South
Africa and I am an Executive Accountant with the South Africa
Department of Mining & Natural Resources. First and foremost, I
apologized using this medium to reach you for a
transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to confidentiality
and prompt access reposed on this medium. Be informed that a member
of the
South Africa Export Promotion Council (SEPC) who
was at the Government delegation to your country during a
trade exhibition gave your enviable credentials/particulars to me. I
have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the
execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all
parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret because of the
nature of this transaction.

Within the Department of Mining & Natural Resources
where I work as a director and with the cooperation of four other
top officials, we have in our possession as Over due payment bills
totaling Thirty Eight Million One Hundred Thousand U. S.
Dollars (US$38,100,000.00) which we want to transfer abroad
with the assistance and cooperation of a foreign company/individual to
receive the said fund on our behalf or a reliable foreign non-company
account to receive such funds. More so, we are handicapped in the
circumstances, as the South Africa Civil Service Code of Conduct does
not allow us to operate offshore account hence your importance in the
whole transaction.

This amount (US$38,1M) represents the balance of the
total contract value executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign
contracting firm, which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately.
Though the actual contract cost have been paid to the original
contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which
we have in principles gotten payment allocation awaiting approval to
remit by Direct Telegraphic wire Transfer to only a foreign bank account
which you will provide by filing in an application through the Justice
Ministry here in South Africa for the transfer of rights and privileges
of the former contractor to you.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you
be willing to assist us in the transaction, your share of the sum will
be 20% of the US$38,1Million, 75% for us and 5% for taxation and
miscellaneous expenses. The business itself is 100% safe, on your part
provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality. Also
your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution
of this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you
and hope that you will not disappoint me. Endeavor to contact me
immediately through the above email, or otherwise you can contact me
on the above tel and fax numbers, whether or not you are
interested in this deal. This will enable me open discussion with other
interested foreign partner with recommendation to carry out this deal.

I want to assure you that myself and my partners are in a position to
make the payment of this claim possible provided you can give us a very
strong assurance and guarantee that our share will be secured and
Please remember to treat this matter as very confidential matter; because
we will not comprehend with any form of exposure as we are still in active
Government Service and remember once again that time is of the
essence in
this business opportunity.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

Edward Sibanda (Dr.)

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