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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "usman zulu" <usman_zulu11@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: usman_zulu@myway.com
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2006 10:51:41 +0000
Subject: FORM MR.Usman Zulu.

FORM MR.Usman Zulu.

Dear Friend

RE: TRANSFER OF US$17 MILLION FOR INVESTMENT.

I am Mr.Usman Zulu, I am Director of Delivery/ operations of a reputable
security company in coted ivoire Abidjan .

Our firm is a Security Company of high repute with years of out standing
service to the people of Africa especially top government officials and
military leaders here in Africa.

I have resolved to contact you through this medium based on business
proposal
that will be of mutual benefit to both of us. I have not discussed this
transaction with anybody because it is of top secret.

To be explicit and straight to the point. Some time early 2001, a reputable
client of ours deposited a consignment in our company?s vault for safe
keeping.
And since then our client has failed to come forward
to claim his consignment, which has accumulated a considerable amount of
money in demurrage.

Consequently, in our bide to contact this client to redeem the demurrage
which his consignment has accumulated, we discovered that our client was
the former president of the Federal Republic of Zaire, who died of illness
after he was dethroned in the same year the consignment was entrusted into
our care.Since the death of our client President Mobutu Sese Seko, none
benefactors has come forward to claim the consignment with us, which means
that non of his relatives or aids had any knowledge of this consignment.
Hence out of curiosity I decided to
secretly open the one box that our client deposited in our vault. And to
my surprise I discovered that the one box that were registered as treasure
by our client actually contained a considerable amount of
money in United States Dollars which if I may estimate should amount to
or about US$17 Million (SEVETHEEN MILLION United States Dollars).
Since
this development I have been nursing plans secretly,but so far I have not
been able to accomplish my plans due mainly to lack of a foreign colluding
partner and my recent transfer to the North. I also found out from enquiries
and the foreign media that our late client siphoned a lot of money from
his country while he was in the office as head of state. It is my conviction
that the consignment in our vault was part of this money that our client
siphoned and now that he is dead there is no trace to this money in our
care. I am now soliciting your noble assistance to assist me in transferring
this money out of Africa to your
country for immediate investment with your assistance.

I have also decided that you will generously beentitled to 30% of the total
amount. Upon my receipt of your willingness to assist me of this
transaction,
I will immediately arrange and transfer all the rights of ownership of this
consignment to your name to facilitate your easy clearance and transfer
of the complete funds to your country for onward investment. This
transaction
is 100% risk-free. Please maintain absolute confidentiality on this matter.
I await your most prompt response through my telephone number. or e-mail
me with the above address.

Yours Faithfully,

MR.Usman Zulu.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam