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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:

• 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)
  • "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)
  • "transaction is 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.
  • +27733181653 (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.
  • johnosborne_family@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Osborne" <johnosborne_012@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:04:47 +0100
Subject: TRANSFER NEGOTIATION

FROM MR.JOHN OSBORNE
JOHANNESBUR REPUBLIC
OF SOUTH AFRICA.
CONTACT ME THROUGH THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS:johnosborne_family@yahoo.co.uk
TEL: +27 733-181-653

ATTN: MD/C.E.O

Dear
Sir/Madam

TRANSFER NEGOTIATION


You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me
personally, the purpose of my introduction is that, I am Mr.John Osborne
first son of Mr.David Nkomo who was recently murdered in the land dispute in
Zimbabwe. I got your contact through South African Information Exchange
decided to write you.

Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit
the sum of US$11.4Million (Eleven Million Four Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars), in one of the private security company, as if he foresaw
the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was deposited in a box as germ
stones to avoid much demurrage from Security Company. This amount was meant
for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and established
of new farm in Swaziland.

This land problem came when Zimbabwean President Mr.ROBERT MUGABE introduce
a new Land Act reform which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some
few blacks farmers. And this resulted to the killing and mob action by
Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot of
people were killed because of this land reformed Act for which my
father was one of the victim.

It is against this background that, I and my family who are currently
staying in South Africa decided to transfer my father's money to foreign
account since the law of South Africa prohibits a refugee (asylum seeker) to
open any bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction
throughout the territorial zone South Africa. As the eldest son of my
father, I am saddle with the responsibility of seeking a genuine foreign
account where this money could be transferred without the knowledge of my
government who are bent on taking everything we have got. The South African
government seems to be playing along with them. I am faced with the dilemma
of investing this amount of money in South Africa for fear of going through
the same experience in future since both countries have similar political
history. Moreover, the South African Foreign Exchange Policy does not allow
such investments for an asylum seeker.

As a businessman, who I have to entrust my future since both my future and
of my family are in his hands, I must let you know that this transaction is
risk free. If you accept to assist my family and me all I want you to do for
me is to make arrangements and come to Johannesburg-South Africa, so that
you can open a non-resident account, which you will aid us in transferring
the money into any account, which you will nominate overseas. This money I
intended to use for investment.


I have two options for you; firstly you can choose to have certain
percentage of the money for nominating your account for this transaction. Or
you can go into partnership with me for proper profitable investment of the
money in your country. Whichever the options you want, feel free to notify
me I have also mapped 10%of this money for all kinds of expenses incurred in
the process of this transaction. If you do not prefer partnership I am
willing to give you 30% of the money while the remaining 60% will be for my
investment in your country.

Contact me with the above e-mail:johnosborne_family@yahoo.co.uk and
Telephone number while I implore you to maintain the absolute secrecy
required in this transaction,please do give me your Telephone and Fax
number for esay communication.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr.JOHN OSBORNE
(For the Family)
TEL: +27 733-181-653

PLEASE YOU CAN READ ABOUT PROBLEMS IN ZIMBABWE FROM THE LINKS BELOW.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam