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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:
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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• 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.
  • +27835119237 (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.
  • godwinthambo@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "THANKS" <godwinthambo@mail2world.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:32:38 -0700
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP

Department of Mineral and Energy
Pretoria, South Africa
Direct Fax: + 27115076408
Direct Tel: +27835119237

Dear Sir/Madam,
I write to seek your cooperation as my foreign partner and your assistance
to enable us to own properties and invest in the stable
economy of your country. I apologize if this mail does not suit your
personal or business ethics.
My names are Mr.Godwin Thambo. We are making this venture proposal
to you in strict confidence. As senior civil servants in the South Africa
Government, the South African civil service laws (Code of Conduct bureau)
forbids us to own a foreign account. The money we have in our possession is
an overdue payment bill totaling Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand US
Dollars $18,500,000.00) which we want to transfer abroad with the assistance
and co-operation of a company/ or an individual to receive the saidfunds,
via a reliable Bank Account.
If you will like to assist us as a partner, then indicate your
Interest after which we shall both discuss on the modalities. All other
information to facilitate the remittance of the funds will be revealed to
you in due course. For your assistance, your share of the entire sum will be
30% amounting to Us$5.55Million of the US$18.5Million, 60% amounting to
US$11.1Million for us and 10% amounting to US$1.85Million will be used to
settle taxation and other miscellaneous expenses in the course of
transferring the funds to your account.
Please indicate your direct telephone and direct fax number when
replying this business proposal I will call you when necessary.
If you are not interested, please also indicate so that it will
enable me to contact other foreign partner with recommendations to carry
out this deal.A swift acknowledgment on the receipt of this mail will
be appreciated.
Please reply to my private email urgently: godwinthambo@myway.com
Thank you and God bless you.
Best Regards,
Mr.Godwin Thambo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam