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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.

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +27730007299 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: cliffduma1@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 23:34:03 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS.

>From the Desk of: Mr.Cliff Duma.
Director, Audit & Project Implementation

DEPARTMENT OF MINING & NATURAL RESOURCES.
Tel: +27-730007299.


STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL & URGENT.

Dear

I am Cliff Duma, 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)United State Dollars 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 you should be willing
to assist us in the transaction, your share of the sum will be 20% of the (US$38,1M)
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,
Mr. Cliff Duma.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam