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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "transaction is 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.
  • +27731815660 (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.
  • chrisdunn_sa@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "lois dunn" <mrs_loisdunn@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:41:11 +0100
Subject: Please i need your help.....could you?



From:Mrs LOIS Dunn
Here are Zimbabwe

Dear:Sir/Madam.


I know this will come to you out of the blue as a surprise. I write this
crucial mail to solicit your assistance in a transaction that will be very
beneficial to you, with hope that you will never let
me down either now or in future. Please study the following account
carefully and respond urgently.

I am Mrs LOIS Dunn, the wife of Mr. Francis Dunn, who was murdered in the
land dispute in Zimbabwe last Year. I got your contact through world
network online, hence I decided to write to you Before the death of my
husband, he had taken my son CHRIS to South Africa to deposit the sum of
US$9.5Million (Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), in
one of the private security company, as if he foresaw the looming danger in
Zimbabwe. This money was deposited in a box as a family property to avoid
much demurrage from SecurityCompany.

This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the
farms and established of new farm in Swaziland. This land problem came when
Zimbabwean President Mr. Robert Mugabe introduce a new Land Act reform which
wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few blacks farmers.And this
resulted to the killing and mob action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some
lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot of people was killed because of
this land reformed Act for which my husband was one of the victim.

It is against this background that my son CHRIS who is currently staying in
South Africa decided to transfer my husband money to foreign account since
the law of South Africa prohibit a refugee (asylum seeker) to open any bank
account or to be involved in any financial transaction througout the
teritorial zone South Africa. I am saddle with the responsibility of
seeking a genuine foreign partner who can assist my son with his
personal/company's account where this money could be transferred without the
knowledge of my government who are bent from taking everything we had. The
South African government seems to be playing along with them. I am faced
with the dilemma of investing this amount of money in South Africa for fear
of going through the same experience in future since both countries have
similar political history. Moreover, the South African Foreign Exchange
policy does not allow such investment as an asylum seeker.

As a person, who I have to entrust my future and of my family in his hands,
I must let you know that this transaction is risk free. And upon asceptance
of this proposal you are advice to contact my son CHRIS through the
E-mail:chrisdunn_sa@yahoo.co.uk phone number:+27-731 815 660 for more
details of thetransaction while I implore you to maintain the absolute
secrecy required in this transaction.

I have two options for you, firstly you can choose to have certain
percentage of the money for nominating your account for this transaction. Or
you can go into partnership with us for the proper for the farmily
profitable investment of the money in your country. Whichever the options
you choose, feel free to notify me I have also mapped out 5% of this money
for all kinds of expenses incurred in the process of this transaction. If
you do not prefer a partnership I am willing to give you 25% of the money
while the remainin 70% will be for my investment in your country.

Best regards and God bless,

Mrs LOIS Dunn

for the family

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam