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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "million 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.
  • +27781287587 (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.
  • johnmodu00@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: john_modu@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 13:39:37 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS

FROM: MR JOHN MODU.
TEL: +27 78 128 7587
EMAIL: johnmodu00@yahoo.com

ATTN: DEAR SIR/MADAM

I know you will be surprise to receive this mail; I got your contact through my personal search when I was
searching for a reliable person who will assist my family out of this predicament here in South Africa.
I am John Modu by name, a son of a rich farmer in Zimbabwe Late MR. David w. Modu.

I inherited the sum of (U.S.$12,000.00 (twelve million united states dollars)from my father after he died and
We made arrangement and transfer the money through diplomatic means to south Africa, where I am presently living
in exile as an asylum seeker but unfortunately my mother died of heart attack after a few months of exile in
south Africa, automatically I came in total control of the sad money as the only son. Upon our arrival in south
Africa after due consideration, we deposited the money with a security company for security reasons. the actual
content was not disclosed to them {security company} pending when we see a trust worthy person who will assist us in transferring this money to his account outside south Africa, as the strike monetary laws here do not allow asylum seekers certain financial rights, I shall be most grateful if you can assist me accomplish this transaction and hoping too that you will remain trustworthy. For your efforts and assistance, I have agreed to give you 10% of the total sum while 5% will be set aside for all the expenses incurred in the course of this transaction. The rest of the 85% will be for my family investment in your country.

Please, note that I have made arrangements for a successful deal. As such, the only thing I ask from you is
total assistance to transfer this money, complete trust and assurance that my own part of the money will be
safe when transferred to your account. I would also wish you kept this proposal highly confidential and
secret considering my father's position before his death and the source of the money.

If you are interested in assisting me, Please contact me through the above email and telephone as soon as
possible.
Thanking you in advance for your anticipated co-operation.



Yours faithfully,
Mr. John Modu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam