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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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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "for your efforts, i am prepared to offer you " (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)
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "the key word to this transaction is absolute confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "innocent ndlovu" <innocentndlovu16@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: innocentndlovu_family@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 15:08:42 +0100
Subject: From Innocent Ndlovu.

(PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL)
INNOCENT NDLOVU
83 CORLET DRIVE
JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: 27-83-944-3290.

Dear Sir/Maddam

With due respect my name is INNOCENT NDLOVU, the eldest son of late MR.
ANDREW NDLOVU of ZIMBABWE. It might be a surprise to you where I got your
contact address, I got it from the South African Information Network
Online(SAINO at South African Trade Center. And it is coming to you with
good intention.

During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters
of our President, MR. ROBERT MUGABE to claim all the white owned farms in
our country. He ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to
his party members and their followers.

My father was one of the greatest and best farmers in the country and he did
not support the President's political ideology, and the President's
supporters invaded my father's farm and burnt down everything, shot him and
as a result of the injuries sustained, he became sick and died after five
days. And after his death, I and my younger brother decided to move out of
Zimbabwe for the
safety of our lives to South-Africa.

But before he died he wrote his will, which reads:

"MY BELOVEED SON, I WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SUM OF
US$25,000,000.00
(TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) WHICH I DEPOSITED IN A BOX
WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA IN CASE OF MY ABSENCE
ON EARTH CAUSED BY DEATH ONLY. YOU SHOULD SOLICIT FOR A RELIABLE FOREIGN
PARTNER TO ASSIST YOU TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA FOR
INVESTMENT PURPOSES. I DEPOSITED THE MONEY IN YOUR NAME AND YOU CAN CLAIM IT
ALONE WITH THE DEPOSIT CODE. YOUR MOTHER HAS ALL THE DOCUMENTS. TAKE GOOD
CARE OF YOUR MOTHER AND BROTHER".

From the above, you will understand that the live and future of my family
depends on this money and I will be very grateful if you can assist us. I
and my younger brother are now living in South-Africa as POLITICAL ASYLUM
SEEKERS and the financial law of SOUTH-AFRICA does not allow ASYLUM SEEKERS
certain financial rights to such huge amount of money.

In view of this, I cannot invest this money in South-Africa, hence I am
asking you to assist me to transfer this money out of South- Africa for
investment purposes. For your efforts, I am prepared to offer you 20% of the
total fund, while 5% will be set aside for local and international expenses
and 75% will be kept for my family.

Finally, modalities on how the transfer will be done will be conveyed to you
once we establish trust and confidence between ourselves. Looking forward to
your urgent reply. For detailed information, please contact me on my direct
line + 27-83-944-3290.

NOTE: THE KEY WORD TO THIS TRANSACTION IS ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY AND
SECRECY. THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE. YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE
HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

All The Best,

INNOCENT NDLOVU.
(FOR THE FAMILY)

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam