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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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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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: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:57:25 +0200
Subject: Important matter

>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