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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "for your efforts, i am prepared to offer you " (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)
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "the key word to this transaction is absolute confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a "Zimbabwe" scam.
• 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.
  • +27837726826 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "stella bongo" <stellab031@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: stellab001@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 08:34:38 -0900
Subject: URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL
FROM MR DAVID BONGO
SOUTH AFRICA
TEL +27837726826


Dear Sir,
My name is Mr David Bongo, the elder son of Mr. Smith Matthewson Bongo of
Zimbabwe. It might be a surprise to you where I got your contact address
from, I got it from the South Africa Information Network Online
(SAINL)/South Africa Trade Center (SATC).

During the current crises against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters
of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our
country, he ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to his
party members and their followers. My father was one of the best farmers in
the country and knowing that he did not support the president’s political
ideology, the president’s supporters invaded my father’s farm, burnt down
everything, shot him and as a result of the wounds sustained, he became sick
and died after two days. And after his death, my mother and I with my
younger Brother decided to move out of Zimbabwe for the safety of our lives
to South-Africa.

BUT, before he died HE WROTE HIS WILL, which reads "(MY BELOVEED SON, I WISH
TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SUM OF $22.5 MILLION U.S DOLLARS WHICH I
DEPOSITED IN A BOX WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN JOHANNESBURG (SOUTH-AFRICA).
IN CASE OF MY ABSENCE ON EARTH CAUSED BY DEATH ONLY". you should solicit for
reliable foreign partner to assist you to transfer this money out of
SOUTH-AFRICA for investment purpose. I deposited the money in your Name
"David Bongo" and it can be claimed by you alone with the deposit code, your
mother has all the documents, Take good care of your mother and brother."
From the above, you will understand that the lives and future of my family
depends on this money as much, I will be very grateful if you can assist us.
We are now living in South-Africa as POLITICAL ASYLUM SEEKERS and the
financial law of SOUTH-AFRICA does not allow ASYLUM SEEKERS certain
financial rights to such huge amount of money.

In view of this, I cannot invest this money in South Africa, hence I am
asking you to assist us transfer this money out of South Africa for
investment purposes. For your efforts, I am prepared to offer you 20% of the
total fund, and 80% will be kept for my family and I. (ME). Finally,
modalities on how the transfer will be done will be conveyed to you once we
establish trust and confidence between ourselves. Looking forward to your
urgent reply or call me +27 83 772 6826.

NOTE: THE KEY WORD TO THIS TRANSACTION IS ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY AND
SECRACY. THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.

YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

All the best,
David Bongo. (FOR THE FAMILY)

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam