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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
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• 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:

• 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)
• 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.
  • mkosonga@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: M Kosonga <mkosonga@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mkosonga@myway.com
Date: Mon, 03 Jul 2006 22:23:59 +0200
Subject: Confidential !!


Hello,
My name is Martin Kosonga, the first son of Mr. Cliff Kosonga, a former
farm owner and a top Opposition member in Zimbabwean politics. Please I
am actually looking for a person who has got a good experience in hotel
management or any lucrative business overseas, because I cannot operate
here in Sierra-Leone due to security reasons. Also my life and that of my
younger brother depends on what I am going to tell you now.
Well you may wonder how I got to know you. It is the money my father mapped out for his
electioneering campaign and for upgrading his farmland before he was
killed by the government of Mr. Robert Mugabe because of his strong
opposition to the obnoxious Land Reform Act of the government of President
Robert Mugabe.
Before he died, he deposited the sum US$ 25.6 Million in a security
company in Abroad. When he was killed, my mother took us and ran to
Neighbouring Malawi where he later died of high blood pressure last year =
leaving me and
my kid brother to our faith, I have the deposited certificate,pass code
to the consignment and I have actually called the security company
telling them of our intention and ordeal but they inform me that I should
come or send any of my father business associate to clear the
consignment.
The consignment was deposited as a personal artifact containing Gold
and some precious materials; they do not know it contain money (US
dollars) that is a top secret. Want I want you to do is to clear this
consignment on our behalf and we are ready to share this money equally with
you after the clearance. The consignment has been deposited since the
year 2002.
So please I am kindly asking you to assist us transfer this money out
of the security company into your personal account in your country in
order for us to start a good business. We are looking forward for your
kind assistance.
Please reach me on personal&confidential email: mkosonga@myway.com
Best Regards
Martin Kosonga

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam