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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:
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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "is highly confidential" (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 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.
  • +27834334507 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "khumalo james" <khumalojames707@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mrkhumalojames_3@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2007 08:31:37 +0000
Subject: FROM THE OFFICE OF MR JAMES,

FROM THE OFFICE OF,
MR.KHUMALO JAMES,
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT,
DEPT.OF TRANSPORT AND AVIATION.
SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
TEL: +27-83-433-4507.

ATTN: Dear Sir/Madam,

This letter is not intending to cause you any embarrassment in what ever
form, rather an appeal for assistance. I am the Principal Accountant
attached to the Department of Transport and Aviation here in South Africa. I
have decided to send forth this proposal to you after some due liberation. I
have in my possession the sum of US$25, 5 MILLON] TWENTYFIVE MILLION FIVE
HUNDERD THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS).

The above fund, which is now in a Government suspense account of, was
accrued from recent contract awarded to a foreign firm for supplies of raw
material to my Department. This is in pursuant to the terms of our agreement
under the international monetary fund (I.M.F.) and Paris Club dept-servicing
program to pay out all outstanding dept owed to foreign firms. I now seek
your assistance for the easy transfer of the over-invoiced (surplus) amount
as the foreign beneficiary. And also in recognition of your personal
executive profile and investment opportunities available in your country.

At this juncture, I want you to stand as the original foreign contractor to
the above fund to enable me put claim on the above sum. I will manipulate
and authenticate the payment to your name. I am assuring you that it is 100%
risk free transaction because all the necessary arrangements have been made.
Finally, I have agreed to give you 25% of the fund due to your assistance,
5% t o be set aside for expenses made by both sides. While the remaining 70%
will be for my investment in your country.

If satisfied with this proposal, kindly notify me by telephone or send a
e-mail so that I can furnish you with more details on how the transaction
will be done. I will be with you in person before the fund arrives in your
country. Please note that this is highly confidential and should be treated
as such. Before you send an e-mail please due call for the confidential of
this transaction.

Best regards,

Mr.Khumalo James,
(Principal Accountant).

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam