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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • +27736000701 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "austin johnson" <austin_johnson02@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: austinjohnson02@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 01 Oct 2005 11:58:59 +0100
Subject: URGENT FAMILY ASSISTANCE!

FROM:AUSTIN JOHNSON

TELEPHONE: +27 73 6000701

compliment of the day,

You may be surprise to receive this letter from me since you don't know me
personally. I am MR. AUSTIN JOHNSON the son of Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON who was
recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact
through Network on line in my search for a reliable and reputable person to
handle a very confidential transaction which involves a transfer of fund to
a foreign ccount and I decided to write you, my late father was among the
few black Zimbabwean rich farmers murdered in cold blood by the agents of
the ruling government of president Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and
sympathy for the Zimbabwean opposition party controlled by the white
minority.

Before his death he had taken to Johannesburg - South Africa to deposit the
sum of US$ 20.5 Million (Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) with a Security and Finance Company as if he foresaw the looming
danger in m Zimbabwe. The money was deposited in a box as valuables to avoid
much demurrage from the Security Company. This money was embarked from the
purchase of new machinery and chemical for farms and the establishment of
new farms in Lesotho and Swaziland.

This land problem arose when President Robert Mugabe introduced a new land
act that wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few blacks
vehemently condemned the" modus operandi" adopted by the government. This
resulted to rampant killing and mob action by the war veterans and some
political thugs. precisely, More than thirty-one (31) people have so far
been killed. Heads of governments from the west, especially Britain and
United States of America have voiced their condemnation of Mugabe'splan.

Subsequently, South African Development Community(S.A.D.C) has continuously
supported Mugabe's new land act, it s against this background that I and my
family who are currently residing in South Africa have decided to transfer
my Father's money into a foreign account.

As the eldest son of my Father, I am saddled with the responsibility of
seeking a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred
without the knowledge of my government who are tactically freezing our
family wealth and South Africa's government seems to be playing along with
them. I am faced with the dilemma of investing this money in South Africa
for fear of encountering the same experience in future since both countries
have almost the same political history. More so, the South African Foreign
Exchange policy does not allow such investment hence we are seeking for an
"ASYLUM"

As a business person whom I entrusted my future and that of my family into
his hands, I must let you know that this transaction is 100% risk free and
the nature of your business does not necessarily matter. For your
assistance, we are offering you 30% of the total sum, 60% for me and my
family while 10% will be mapped out for any expenses we may in cure during
the course of this transaction. We wish to invest our part of the money on
commercial property based on your advice.

Finally, all we demand from you is assurance that you will not sit on this
money when it finally gets to your personal or company's account in your
country. If this proposal is acceptable by you, please confirm your interest
via the above telephone number or E-MAIL me.

Best Regards.

MR AUSTIN JOHNSON

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam