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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +27739887785 (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.
  • solomon_themba@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: fredrick_kwatema@UnionPlus.net
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:20:39 +0200
Subject: Please respond back

Date: 13th July 2006
From the Desk of:
Engr. Solomon Themba
Direct Tel: +27 73 988 7785


Dear Friend,

URGENT BUSINESS REQEST

It is my great pleasure writing you this letter on behalf of myself and my
colleagues.

I am Engr. Solomon Themba, Director of Project Implementation, South Africa
Department of Minerals & Energy, your particulars were given to us by a
member of the South Africa Export Promotion Council (S.E.P.C) who was at the
Federal Government Delegation to your country during a trade exhibition. I
have decided to seek a confidential cooperation with you in the execution of
the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will
keep it as top secret because of the nature of this business.

Within the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director, Project
Implementation and with the cooperation of three other top officials, we have
in our possession as overdue payment bills totaling Twenty One Million, Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars which we want to transfer abroad with
assistance and cooperation of a foreign company/individual to receive the said
fund on our behalf or a reliable foreign non-company account to receive such
funds. More so, we are handicapped in the circumstances as the South Africa
Civil Service Code of Conduct does not allow us as Government officials to
operate offshore account hence your importance in the whole transaction.

The amount represents the balance of the total contract value executed on
behalf of my Ministry by a foreign contracting firm which we the officials
over-invoiced deliberately. Though the actual contract cost have been paid to
the original contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount
which we have in principles gotten approval to remit by Telegraphic Transfer
(T.T) to foreign bank account you will provide by filing in an application
through the Ministry of Justice for the transfer of rights and privileges of
the former contractor to you.

Since the government of my country is determined to pay every foreign
Contractor all debts owed so as to maintain good relationship with foreign
government and non-government financial agencies because of 2010 World cup
that will be host in South Africa, therefore we have decided to include our
bills for approvals with the cooperation of some officials from the Department
of Finance and the South Africa Reserve Bank (S.A.R.B). We are seeking your
assistance in providing a vital account or any virgin bank account into which
we can remit this money by acting as our main partner and trustee. This we can
do by filing an Application through the Ministry Of Justice here in South
Africa, for the transfer of rights and privileges of the former contractor to
you as the beneficiary and other forms of documentation upon application for
claim to reflect the payment and approvals to be secured on your behalf. This
processes being pre-arranged with the principal trustee of the original
contractor and with the consent of the original contractor.


I have the Authority of my partners involved to propose that your share of the
sum is 30% of the amount, 60% for us and 5% for taxation and Miscellaneous
expenses and remaining 5% will be for charity Organization. The business
itself is 100% safe, on your part provided you treat it with utmost secrecy
and confidentiality. Also your area of specialization is not a hindrance to
the successful execution of this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in
you and hope that you will not disappoint me. Please endeavor to contact me on
my confidential Telephone and Fax number or my private email account:
(solomon_themba@yahoo.com), concerning your position and also include your
confidential telephone and fax numbers.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Yours faithfully,
Engr. Solomon Themba
Tel: +27 73 988 7785.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam