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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.

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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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin 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.
  • +2289154178 (Togo, probably a 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.
  • gusman_sherif004@yahoo.com.hk
  • usman202@africamail.com

Fraud email example:

From: =?big5?q?usman=20sherif?= <usman_sherif004@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: usman_sherif@excite.com
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 12:07:44 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: HELLO FRIEND


§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gusman_sherif004@yahoo.com.hk

FROM:MR USMAN SHERIF

AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT.

UNION TOGOLAISE BANK

LOME- TOGO.

PHONE:+228-915-4178



Dear friend ,



It is indeed my pleasure to write you this letter, which I believe will be a surprise to you as we have never met before, and I am deeply sorry if I have in any manner disturbed your privacy.Please forgive this unusual manner of contacting you, but this particular letter is of exceptional and very private nature. There is absolutely going to be a great doubt and distrust in your heart in respect of this email, coupled with the fact that, so many individuals have taken possession of the Internet tofacilitate their nefarious deeds, thereby making it extremely difficult for genuine and legitimate business class persons to get attention and recognition.There is no way for me to know whether I will be properly understood,but it is my duty to write and reach out to you.



My Name is Mr. Usman Sherif, the chief auditor of UNION TOGOLAISE BANK Lome Togo, On a routine inspection i discovered a dormant account with a Balance of of Twenty miliion Five hundred thousand dollars.On Further investigation, i also discovered that the account holder Late Mr.Richard Heinrich a national of your country who died in an auto crash in 1999. He died leaving no beneficiary to the account, the bank will approve this money to any foreigner who have information about this account which i will give to you. because the former operator of this account is a foreigner from Kuwait and i am certainly sure that he is dead and nobody will come to claim this money again.



Therefore i need your full cooperation in this transaction, i will provide all the necessary information needed in order to claim this money, but you will need to send to me information about yourself so that i can trust you on this business. I need your full name and address including you phone/fax number and your occupation.I want to assure you that this transfer is 100% risk free and you have nothing to worry about because i am with the account information of Late Mr.Richard Heinrich which i will give to you.



Finally, i promise you 30% of the total money for your corporation and assistance while 60 % will be for me, thereafter I and my family will visit your country for investement. 5% of the total amount has been mapped out for any expenses that might be made in the procees of succeeding the transaction while remaining 5% will be donated to the charity and motherless babies home. If you are interested, please reply me through My Private email:usman202@africamail.com , I am looking forward to hear from you.



Best Regards



Mr. Usman Sherif




- usman sherif

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam