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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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  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.

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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:
  • "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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • thambogodwin@jmail.co.za

Fraud email example:

From: "tan bo" <tanboo4@msn.com>
Reply-To: thambogodwin@jmail.co.za
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 09:04:29 +0000
Subject: I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Good Day,

I am Engr.Thambo Godwin.,a native of Pretoria and Director of Project
Implementation, South Africa Ministry of Mining & Natural Resources.
I am making this contact with you based on the committee's need for
an individual/company who is willing to assist us with a solution to
money transfer. First and foremost, I apologize 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. In
unfolding this proposal, I want to count on you, as a respected and
honest person to handle this transaction with sincerity, trust and
confidentiality.

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 Ministry of Mining and Natural
Resources where I work as Director of Project Implementation and with
the cooperation of four other top officials, we have in our
possession as overdue payment bills totaling Fourteen Million, Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars(US$14,500,000.) which we want
to transfer abroad with the assistance and cooperation of a
foreigncompany/individual to receive the said fund on our behalf or a
reliable foreign non-company account to receive such funds. Moreso,
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 $14.5M 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 approval to remit by Key tested Telegraphic Transfer (K.T.T)
to any foreign bank account you will provide by filing in an
application through the Ministry of Justice 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 should
you be willing to assist us in the transaction, your share of the sum
will be 30% of the $14.5 million, 60% for us and 10% 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. Endeavour to contact me
immediately through my e-mail address, including your confidential
telephone number to enable me contact you for further details or to
confirm whether or not you are interested in this deal. If you are
not, it will enable me scout for another foreign partner to carry out
this deal. I want to assure you that my partners and myself are in a
position to make the payment of this claim possible provided you can
give us a very strong assurance and guarantee that the funds will be
secured and please, remember to treat this matter very confidential ,
because we will not comprehend with any form of exposure as we are
still in active Government Service. Once again, remember that time is
of great essence in this transaction.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.
Email Address:thambogodwin@jmail.co.za
Yours faithfully,

Engr.Thambo Godwin.
Director;Project Implementation,
Ministry of Mining & Natural Resources

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam