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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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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Fraud email example:

From: Aziz Ramani <azizramani1@netscape.net>
Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 10:04:24 +0200
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED

DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS
AND ENERGY PRETORIA,
SOUTH AFRICA.


Kindly reply: azizramani@netscape.net


Dear Friend,

It is my great pleasure to write you this letter on behalf of my colleagues.I have decided to seek a
confidential co-operation with you in the execution of a deal hereunder for the benefit of all parties and
hope you will keep it confidential because of the nature of the business. Within the Department of
Minerals and Energy where I work as an Assistant Director of audit,with the co-operation of two other top
officials,we have in our possession an overdue contractor payment in US Dollars funds.

The said funds represent certain percentage of the contract value executed on behalf of my Department
by a foreign contracting firm,(Pearls Ltd) which we the officials over-invoiced to the amount of
US$41,500,000 (Fourty-one Million five Hundred Thousand US Dollars).Since the present elected
Government is determined to pay foreign contractors all debts owed,so as to maintain good relations with
foreign governments and non-governmental agencies,we included our bills for approvals with the
Department of Finance and the Reserve Bank of South Africa (RBSA).We are 100% sure of funds
approvals to anyone or company we (The Audit Committee) recommend as part of the sub-contractors
who did jobs for the Department.

We are seeking your assistance to front as the sub-contractor of the unclaimed funds,since we are not
allowed to operate foreign accounts.Details and change of beneficiary information upon application for
claim to reflect payment and approvals will be secured on behalf of you/your Company.

My colleagues and I are prepared to give you 20% while we take 70% and the balance of 10% for taxes
and miscellaneous expenses incurred. This business is completely safe and secure,provided you treat it
with utmost confidentiality.It does not matter whether you/your Company does contract projects,as a
transfer of rights will be secured in favour of you/your Company through the Federal High Court of South
Africa before we can proceed. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not
disappoint us.Kindly notify me immediately via my alternative email (azizramani@netscape.net) for further
details upon your acceptance of this proposal.

Yours Faithfully,

Aziz Ramani(Mr)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam