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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million 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)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • +27735936052 (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.
  • albertmabona@gawab.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: albert mabona <albertmabona3@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Fri, 19 May 2006 15:24:01 +0100 (BST)
Subject: WAITING FOR YOUR MAIL


FROM: MR ALBERT MABONA
PHONE: +27 73 593-6052
EMAIL: albertmabona@gawab.com
Dear Sir/Madam
You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me
personally, the purpose of my introduction is that, I am Mr. ALBERT MABONA
The first son of Dr.DAVID MABONA who was recently murdered in the land dispute
in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through network online hence decided to
write you. Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg South
Africa
to deposit the sum of US$25M(TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS)
in one of the private security company, as if he foresaw the looming danger in
Zimbabwe. This money was deposited in a box as germ stones to avoid much
demurrage from Security Company. This amount was meant for the purchase of
new machines and chemicals for the farms and established of new farm in Swaziland.
This land problem came when Zimbabwean President Mr. Robert Mugabe
introduce a new Land Act reform which wholly affected the rich white farmers and
some few blacks farmers. And this resulted to the killing and mob action by
Zimbabwean war veterans and Some lunatics in the society. In fact, a
lot of people were killed because of this land reformed Act for which my father was
one of the victims. It is against this background that, I and my family who are currently
staying in South Africa decided to transfer my fathers money to foreign
account since the law of South Africa prohibit a refugee (asylum
seeker) to open any bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction
throughout the territorial zone in South Africa.
As the eldest son of my father, I am saddle with the responsibility of
seeking a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred
without the knowledge of my government who are bent on taking
everything we have got. The South African government seems to be playing along with
them. I am faced with the dilemma of investing this amount of money in South
Africa for fear of going through the same experience in future since both
countries have similar political history. Moreover, the South African
Foreign Exchange policy does not allow such investment for an asylum seeker.
As a businessman, who I have to entrust my future and that of my family in
his hands, I must let you know that this transaction is risk free. If you
accept to assist me and my family all I want you to do for me is to make
arrangements and agree with me that you can travel to any part of the
country in the world where the fund will be transferred and withdraw the money.
And we are going to open a non-resident transfer account, which will aid us
in transferring the money into any account you will nominate overseas.
This money I intend to use it for investment. We have mapped out 5% of this money
for all kinds of expenses that might be incurred in the process of this transaction.
We have concluded to offer you
30% of the total amount for your assistance while the remaining 65% will be
for me and my family investment in your country.
Reply me immediately to my direct Email: - albertmabona@gawab.com while I implore you to maintain the absolute Secrecy
required in this transaction, Looking forward for your favorable reply.
Regards to you and your family.

Yours Faithfully,

MR Albert Mabona
(For the family)



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam