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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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 orphan scam.
• 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.
  • +27732136917 (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.
  • greg_themba@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Greg Themba" <greg_themba010@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2006 12:20:31 +0000
Subject: REQUEST FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

FROM: MR. GREG THEMBA.

20 BOTHA CRESCENT,

SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG,

SOUTH AFRICA.

PHONE: +27-732-136-917.

EMAIL: greg_themba@yahoo.fr

ATTN: MD/CEO,

                                              APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE. 

With due respect trust and humility, it is my pleasure appealing for your assistance at this point in time. My name is MR GREG THEMBA the elder son of Mr. JAMES THEMBA of Zimbabwe. This might be a surprise to you about where I got your contact address. I got your address from the South African Chamber of Commerce in Johannesburg, South Africa.

During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supports of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white-owned farms to his party members and his followers, he ordered all white farmers to surrender all farms to his party members and his followers. My father is one of the best farmers in our country and because he did not support Mugabe’s ideas, Mugabe’s supports invaded my fathers farm and burnt everything in the farm, killing my father and made away with a lot of items in my fathers farm. 

Before his death, my father had deposited with a Security Company in Johannesburg, South Africa the sum of US$10,500 000.00 (TEN Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). After the death of my father; we decided to move to the Republic of South Africa where he had deposited the money in the Security Company as valuables. So I decided to contact overseas firm and companies that will assist me to move this money out of South Africa because as asylum seekers we are not allowed to operate any Bank Account within South Africa.

I have two options, 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 me for 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 that might be incurred in the process of this transaction. If you do not prefer a partnership, I am willing to give you 20% of the total money,while 75% will be for my family. If you are really capable and willing to assist me, please do contact me with my detailed information please.

I am looking forward with a view to hearing from you soonest. 

 MR GREG THEMBA.

(FOR THE FAMILY).

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam