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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • johnbhengu@terra.com.mx (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Bhengu" <jbhenguabsa@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:39:24 +0200
Subject: Urgent Assit/Money Transfer

FROM THE DESK OF: MR. JOHN BHENGU
MANAGER BILLS/EXCHANGE.
ABSA BANK, JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA.
Alternative Email: johnbhengu@terra.com.mx

Date: 25/07/006


(CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT)

Greetings,

I am MR. JOHN BHENGU, the Manager of Bills/Exchange at the Foreign
Remittance Department of one of the leading banks in South Africa
(A.B.S.A).. I got your contact address from your country's Trade Journal.
Your impressive and managerial records made me to solicit for your
partnership in these regards.

I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On June
6, 1997, a British Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the NATIONAL
PETROLUEM CO-OPORATION DR.GREIG SMITH Made a numbered time (Fixed deposit)
for 36 calendar months, valued at US$21,320,000.00 (Twenty One Million
Three hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars only) in my branch. Upon maturity
in 2000, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no
reply.

After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his
contract employers, the National petroleum corporation that DR.GREIG SMITH
died of auto crash during one of his trips to his country Britain, On
further investigation. I found out that he died without making a WILL, and
all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made
further investigation and discovered that MR. MR.GREIG SMITH. Did not
declare any next of kin or relation in all his official documents, including
his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.

This sum of US$21,320,000.00 have been floating as unclaimed since 2002 in
my bank as all efforts to get his relatives have hit the stones. According
to the banking law at the expiration of 10(TEN) years, the money will revert
to the ownership of the federal Government if nobody applies to claim the
fund and the eight years is the end of JUNE 2007. Consequently, my proposal
is that I want to seek your consent as a foreigner to stand in as the owner
of the money as the next of kin to the deceased so that the bank will
transfer the money to your designated account. All documents and proves to
enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out. I have secured from
the probate an order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased
beneficiaries, and more so I are assuring you that the business is 100% risk
free involvement. Your share stays while the rest be for me and for
investment purpose, as I will leave my country by the end of the year.

The sharing of the funds will be based According to agreement between {both
of us} that is, me and you. As soon as I receive an acknowledgement of
receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business proposal, I
will furnish you with the necessary modalities and disbursement ratio to
suit both parties without any conflict. If this proposal is acceptable by
you, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you.

In the light of above, the following will be required to achieve this goal
to avoid mistake.
1. Full Names....................................
2. Residential Address.......................
3. Phone Number..............................
4. Fax Number..................................
5. Occupation....................................
6. Sex................................................
7. Age...............................................
8. Nationality.....................................
9. Present Country.................................

Your positive response is a key to the successful completion of this
transfer.

Yours truly,
Mr. JOHN BHENGU.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam