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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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
  • +27837399307 (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.
  • mrs.lovinafamily@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "lovina taylor" <lt1zm@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: mrs.lovinafamily@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:33:56 +0000
Subject: Urgent Private Business Assistance

From: Mrs. Lovina E. Taylor/Michael Taylor
Tel + 27 83 739 9307 
23 Alen street Pretoria
South Africa
E-mail address: mrs.lovinafamily@yahoo.com

 

Sub: Family Request For Private Business Assistance Confidential Proposal.  

Attention: Director

 

Dear Sir/Madam,          

 

I do foresee the surprise this letter will bring to you as it comes from a stranger. But rest assured as it comes with the best of intentions. However, your address was courtesy of business journal at the world trade center in Cape Town. But after due consideration from you’re your profile, I became aware and assured of your credibility of handling this trust and future, thus I offer my humble decision to solicit your understanding and cooperation in this transaction, as it will be beneficial to all of us involved.

 

I am Mrs. Lovina Taylor the wife of Mr. Toney Taylor of Zimbabwe. During the current war against farmers in Zimbabwe and from the support of our president Robert MUGABE to claim all the white owned farmers in Zimbabwe in our country, all the white and black farmers were ordered to surrender their farms to his party members and his followers. My husband who was one of the best farmers in our country and treasurer of the farmer’s CO-operation did not support his idea and so the party members invaded my husband farm’s and burnt everything in the farm, killed my husband and made away with a lot of items in my husband’s farm.

 

After the death of my husband, when I was going through the wills, I discovered that my late husband had used his position then to make some money, which he brilliantly transferred and deposited it with a private security company here in Cape Town, Republic of South Africa. He deposited this consignment as valuables. The Security Company does not know that the consignment contains cash money, except the attorney and me.  I and my children decided to move out of Zimbabwe because our lives were in danger. The amount is US$ 28.2M (TWENTY EIGHT MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLAR) and So I decided to make contact with an overseas firm whom will assist me to move this money out of South Africa, because we are asylum seekers here in South Africa.

 

So if you consider this proposal, we have agreed to give you 25% of the total sum for helping us to move this money out to your country and 5% will be mapped out for expenses both of us may incur during this transaction and 70% will be for me and my family to invest in your country. All I want is for you to furnish me with all your personal phone and fax numbers for easy communication.

 

Note: This transaction is 100% risk free and absolutely confidential. Then if you are interested to help me and my family you will contact my only son Mr. Michael Taylor the phone number under and my private email address above.

 

Thanks and God bless you. As I wait for your urgent reply.

 

Best regards.

 

Mrs. Lovina E. Taylor/Michael Taylor
For the family

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam