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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +27732496787 (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.
  • gthomas0301@yahoo.it
  • gthomas0301@yahoo.it

Fraud email example:

From: "Grace Thomas" <grace_thomas01@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 21:35:14 +0000
Subject: From: Ms. Grace Thomas.

From: Ms. Grace Thomas.
#16 Milford Road Sandston.
Johannesburg; South Africa
.Tel: +27-73-249-6787
Alternative e-mail: gthomas0301@yahoo.it

Greeting!

Probably you may be surprised to receive this letter from me hence you do
not know me personally. But for the need of introducing myself, I am Ms.
Grace Thomas the wife of late Mr. Johnson Thomas, who was recently murdered
in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. Considering the imagination of my letter, I
want you to be rest assured that your contact was made available to me
through the Internet business directory in Johannesburg hence I decided to
writes to you.

Before the death of my husband, he had notified me about the sum of
US$7.6Million (Seven Million Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars),
which he deposited with a private security Company in Johannesburg South
Africa as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was
deposited in a box as personal valuables belonging to his a foreign partner
to avoid much demurrage from the Security Company. This amount was meant for
the establishing and purchasing of new machines and chemicals for a new farm
in Swaziland.

The land problem came in when Zimbabwean President MR. ROBERT MUGABE
introduced a new Land Reform Act, which wholly affected all the rich white
farmers and some few black farmers. And it resulted to killings and mob
action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society. In fact,
a lot of people were killed because of this land reformed Act for which my
husband was one of the victims. It is against this background that, my
children and I who are currently staying in South Africa as refugees decided
to transfer my husbands money to a foreign country since the law of South
Africa prohibits Asylum seeker from operating any bank account or to be
involved in any financial transaction throughout the territorial zones of
South Africa.

Now I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking for a trustworthy
foreigner who can provide us with a reliable account where this money could
be transferred. In view of my obligation, all I seek for is an honest
person, whom I can entrust my future and that of my family, which is this
fund. I must also let you know that this transaction demands absolute
confidentiality hence our future depends upon the fund. Therefore If you're
willing to assist me and my family, you have to aid us with a reliable
foreign bank account which this fund will be transferring into. And for
accepting my proposal, we are prepared to offer to you 20% of the total
funds, in other words, we can go into partnership with you for the proper
profitable investment of the money in your country. Whichever the option you
want, feel free to notify me. I have also mapped out 5% of this money for
all kinds of expenses we might incur in the process of transferring the fund
to any of your nominated bank account overseas.

Therefore if you are really capable and willing to assist us please do not
hesitate to contact me immediately, through my alternative e-mail address
above or you can call me with the above telephone number.

Finally, please treat this matter as urgent as possible as my family and I
are in dare need to leave this country immediately the fund is transferred
out of the country. Thanks for your mutual co-operation as we await your
urgent response. And please remember to reply to me through my alternative
email address at gthomas0301@yahoo.it

Best Regards,

MS.GRACE THOMAS.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam