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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • familysitholeza@tsamail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: familysithole@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 03:21:21 +0200
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL OFFER

ATTN:President & CEO.

CRY FOR HELP

Good day, I know that this message will come to you as a surprise.
I found your contact through internet here in South Africa. I am Mrs. MARY SITHOLE,the wife of ( Late) Mr.
TIMOTHYSITHOLE.of Zimbabwe. During the current war against farmers in Zimbabwe and from the support of
our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our country, all the white farmers were
ordered to surrender their farms to his party members and his followers.
My husband who was one of the best farmers in our country and treasury of the farmer's co-operation did
not support his ideas and so the party members invaded my husband's farms and burnt everything in the farm,
killed my husband and made away with a lot of items in my husband's farm. After the death of my husband,
my children {Kelvin} and I decided to move out of Zimbabwe because of our lives were in danger with the
money that my husband kept in his hidden safe in my house.
The amount contained in the safe in my house is US$32M(Thirty Two Million USD) and we decided to code the
money and move to the Republic of South Africa where we deposited the money in a security company as
valuable item. So I need your assistance by providing your account and help on claim of this money on
your name to move this money out of South Africa security company, because we are Asylum seekers here
in South Africa.
So if you consider this proposa, we have agreed to give you 20% of the total sum for helping us to move
this money out to your country and 5% will be mapped out for expenses both of us may participate in this
transaction,and 75% will be for me and my family to invest in your country. I look forward to your reply
through my email. familysitholeza@tsamail.co.za
Thanks
Best regards.
Mrs.MARY SITHOLE. (For the Family) Contact my son JOHN SITHOLE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam