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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • frankgarang@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Frank Gurang" <frankgurang@msn.com>
Reply-To: frankgarand@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 16:28:25 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

Dear friend,

I sourced your e-mail address from the Internet directory, as we have not
previously known each other. However, every relationship begins one day I am
Eng. Frank Gurang, the site inspection director with the ministry of works
and construction and I work directly with the Minister in charge of the
Ministry here in Republic of Sudan.

I awarded a contract for IRRIGATION to a Portuguese firm worth several
millions of dollars a few years ago. In the course of executing the project
the firm discovered large gold deposit in one of the construction sites.

Being the site director I collaborated with the firm in the mining of the
gold on a mutual agreement to share the proceeds out of which I got a share
of $10mil dollars. As an ordinary director and a mere civil servant in this
small war torn country, I cannot introduce this funds into the banking
system here considering my meager monthly income as well as the code of
conduct guidelines regulating civil service here in my country, Sudan.
Presently Sudan is engulfed in a civil crisis and as this crisis intensified
by the day, I decided to leave with my family and this money was succeeded
deposited for me in a Security Company due to that am still working for the
government of Sudan as a civil servant i can't use this money now because am
been monitored, That is why i need you to invest this money in your country
on my behalf.

I am presently out of Sudan I therefore solicit for your co-operation to
take delivery of this fund into your custody for any profitable investment
that will be mutually beneficial for two of us. I will be able to arrange
all necessary procedures to ensure smooth movement of this fund until you
are in control of it.

Please let me know if you are interested by return mail and also include
your full names and contact telephone number to enable me call you. I will
provide you with my contact telephone and where I am presently as soon as
you indicate appreciable interest to this deal.

Reply to this my confidential email address: frankgarang@yahoo.co.uk

Regards
Eng. Frank Gurang

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam