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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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:
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +27734677003 (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.
  • desmdndlovu@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mining and Natural Resources" <desmond_ndlovu@terra.com.mx>
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2006 08:12:29 -0600
Subject: FROM,DR DESMOND NDLOVU!!


Dr. Desmond Ndlovu
Mining and Natural Resources,
P.B.X. 59, Pretoria.
EMAIL:desmdndlovu@yahoo.es
TEL: +27 73 4677003

Sir/Madam,
I am Dr Desmond Ndlovu a native of Cape Town in South Africa and I am the Director Project Implementation with the South Africa Department of Mineral & Energy (DME) First and Foremost, I apologise for using this medium to reach you, this is in a quest to find a reliable partner through a member of the South Africa export Promotion Council (SEPC) at the Government delegation to your country during a trade exhibition. I want to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as a top secret because of the nature of this transaction.

Within the department of Mining & Natural resources where I work as an executive accountant and with the cooperation of four Department of Mineral & Energy with other top officials, we have in our possession as overdue payments bills totaling thirty-five million U.S Dollars ($35,000.000.00) which we want to transfer abroad with the 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 Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore account hence your importance in the whole transaction.

This amount $35m represents the balance of the total contract value executed on behalf of my department 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 (TT) to any foreign bank account you will provide by filing in an application through the Justice Ministry here in South Africa for the transfer of rights and privileges of the former contractor to you.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be willing to assist us in the transaction your share of the sum will be 25% of the $35million, 65% for us and 10% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses. 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. Please, endeavour to contact me immediately through my above Tel or Fax numbers whether or not you are interested in this transaction, If you are not, it will enable me scout for another foreign partner to carry out this deal. I want to assure you that my partners and myself are in a position to facilitate the payment of this claim provided you can give us a very strong assurance and guarantee that our share will be secured when deposited in your account, because we will not comprehend with any form of exposure as we are still in active Government Service.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Yours faithfully,
Dr. Desmond Ndlovu.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam