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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "dear friend" (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 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.
  • jbshankah@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Joseph shankah <jshankah@santospirito.net>
Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2006 11:28:50 -0500
Subject: Let me know if you are intrested in this offer

From: Mr. Joseph Shankah
Cape Town-South Africa.

 

Dear Friend,
 
I will like to begin by way of introduction; my name is Mr.Joseph Shankah a native of Cape Town-South Africa and a senior employee of the South Africa Ministry of Mining and Natural Resources who is currently in Amsterdam on a trade mission.
 
I am written to solicit your cooperation in order to redeem an investment interest currently held under trust with the South Africa Ministry of Mining and Natural Resources. The said investment now valued at us$9,500.000.00 (Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) was originally purchase my Mr.Lucio Manfred and leased to the Transvaal orange mining corporation 1975.
 
Since the maturity of this contract in September 1998, several attempts have been without success to contact Mr.Lucio Manfred or any of his close relatives in whose favour the investment cash can be paid.My partner who is the account director at the Ministry of Mining and two of our colleagues have initiated the process of filling a claim for this money with the hope of having the funds transferred abroad.
 
We request that you let my partner file a claim for this money from the South Africa Ministry of mining and Natural Resources indicating that you were appointed by Mr.Lucio Manfred to be the beneficiary to this fund .when the claim is approved, you as the beneficiary will be paid the sum of Us$9,500.000.00.
 
Since the money is going to be paid directly to any account of your choice, you have a liability to ensure that my partner and I receive 75% of the total sum while you keep 20% for your assistance and a further 5% will be mapped out for any expenses that we may incurred in the process of this transaction. Please we urge you to keep this matter very confidential because we are still in active public service in South Africa.
 
I want to assure you that my partners are in position to make the payment of this claim possible provided you can give us a very strong guarantee that our share will be well secure and that you will not take advantage of our position since the money will be transfer to a bank account that you will nominate.

Be assured that there is absolutely nothing to worry about in view of this claim. It is perfectly save with no risk involved and it is not subject to any enquiry since my partner will be handling the claim directly in South Africa on our behalf.
 
If my proposal interests you, please forward your response including your telephone and fax number to my private email address ( jbshankah@netscape.net  ) so that i can provide you with more details about it all.
 
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation while I wait your urgent response
 
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Joseph Shankah

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam