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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • +27730219111 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "mark zuzu" <mrkzuzu2@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:05:25 +0000
Subject: FROM MR MARK ZUZU

FROM MARK ZUZU,
20 BOTHA CRESCENT SANDTON,
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA.
TEL:+27-73-021-9111 

 
Attn:Dear Friend,

With due respect, trust and humility, I write you this letter, which I believe would be of great interest to you. I found your contact while I was doing a private research on the Internet for a reliable and apableforeign partner that will assist me and my family. I am mark zuzu the son of one Mr.Fred Zuzu of Zimbabwe.
 
As you aware of the ongoing crisis currently in Zimbabwe against farmers and non supporters of President Robert Mugabe to claim all the farms/land of both whites and non supporters in our country, President Mugabe’s party members brutally killed my Father who was a farmer and a religious man
 
Before his death, he deposited the Sum of US$18.5.MILLION (EIGHTEEN
MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) with a security and finance company in Johannesburg South Africa for safe-keeping, as if he foresaw the looming danger that could erupt from the struggle in Zimbabwe.
 
This money was deposited in a box as a consignment labelled''FAMILY TREASURE'' with the security company.This frame of mind was inform as not to allow the company management to have the knowledge of the real content of the box for obvious security reasons.
 
Presently, we are residing temporarily in Johannesburg South Afric as refugees and our status does not allow us to own such amount of money both with the help of a Financial Consultant who has agreed to help us, with his fees intact, he can transfer the funds into an overseas account for investments, which where we will need your assistance.
 
We will offer you 20% of this total sum for your assistance, 75% will be for me and my family while 5% for any other expenses that might be incurred in the course of this transaction.
 
If you sincerely wish to assist us with the whole of your heart to transfer this fund into your nominated bank account, please send e-mail to me as quickly as possible, give me your phone number and fax for more confidentialities.
 
NOTE: That this transaction is 100% risk free and absolutely confidential.
 
Thanks and God bless you.
MARK ZUZU,
TEL:+27-73-021-9111

For the family.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam