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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "million us 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)
• This email message is a next of kin 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.
  • +27784320807 (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.
  • kev_theron@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "pleasehelp01@terra.es" <pleasehelp01@terra.es>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:12:06 +0200 (MEST)
Subject: URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL



FROM:KEVIN THERON=20
AUDITOR GENERAL.=20
FNB BANK.=20
JOHANBNESBURG,=20
SOUTH AFRICA.=20

Dear Sir/Madam,=20

I am Mr Kevin Theron, The Auditor General of FNB BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA. I =
have decided to contact you through this medium based on a business proposa=
l, which will be of mutual benefit to both of us. However, I got your conta=
ct through a BUSINESS TRADE MANUAL in South African Chamber Of Commerce in =
my search for a foreign business partner whom I will transfer this fund in =
his personal or company=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=E2=84=A2s account.=20

During the annual bank auditing, we discovered an abandoned sum of US$ 18,0=
00 000:00 ( EIGHTEEN MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY) in an account that belong to =
one of our foreign customers (Willie Jackson Sr.) 61 years, of Scotch Plain=
s, N.J. USA lost his life aboard Egypt Air Flight 990,which crashed into th=
e Atlantic Ocean on October 31,1999. View this,
=20
websitehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm) .Since we got =
the information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to =
come over and claim his money, because we can not release it unless some bo=
dy apply for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in =
our banking guidelines.=20

Unfortunately, nobody has come forward to claim this money. It is based on =
this, that some officials in my department and I have decided to establish =
a cordial business relationship with you, hence my contacting You. If you i=
ndicate interest in this transaction I will let you know the steps to take =
for a smooth transaction for the approval of this fund from the Bank in you=
r favour.=20

The mode of sharing after the transfer of the money into your nominated ban=
k account will be as follows: 65% for me and my colleagues, 30% will be giv=
en to you for your assistance and 5% will be mapped out to offset expenses =
during the course of the transaction. in receipt of this mail, call me imm=
ediately tel ;+ 27 784 320 807 e-mail kev_theron@yahoo.com and kindly send =
me your private telephone and fax numbers for easy communication. Please tr=
eat this business proposal STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.=20

Hoping to hear from you soon.=20
BEST REGARDS=20
MR KEVIN THERON





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam