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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "ben tapa" <bentapa@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2006 20:46:19 +0000
Subject: Please Read!

Johannesburg,Gauteng,
South Africa.
+27738384838
Dear Sir,
It is with respect and trust that I write you this mail which I believe will
be of great interest to you.I found your contact while doing a private
research for a reliable and capable foreign person who will assist my family
and I transfer our inherited fund to his personal account for investment.
My name is Ben Mutapa son of the late Peter Mutapa who was chairman of the
farmers' co-operation in Zimbabwe.My father was one of the black farmers
murdered in cold blood by the President Mugabe government during the last
land dispute in Zimbabwe.After my father's death,we had to move out of
Zimbabwe because our lives were in danger because of the money that my
father kept in his hidden safe.The safe contains the sum of
$13,000,000[Thirteen million US Dollars]which was for the purchase of new
machines and chemicals for the farms and the establishment of new farms in
Swaziland.
We moved to South Africa as refugees where we put the money in a box and
deposited it with a security company as valuables belonging to our foreign
partner pending when we find a reliable person to assist us.We did this
because we do not want to take risks as we have already lost all our farms
and financial resources in Zimbabwe.
I had to contact you for this assistance after my mother suffered a major
stroke while having a bath which has made life difficult for my sisters and
I ever since.I am using this medium to appeal to you to assist us in this
transfer especially as the Zimbabwean government has turned a deaf ear to
the appeals of the international community for reconsideration and because
we will need to get to a safe abode where we can start life afresh.
We are ready to give you 30% of the money for any inconvenience this may
cause you and for accepting to assist us. Please contact me as soon as
possible indicating your kind consideration.I shall be happy to give you
further information for the transfer.
Thanks and best wishes.

Ben Mutapa
[For and on behalf of my family]


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam