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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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• 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:

• 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)
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "urgent assistance" (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 orphan 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.
  • +27735413987 (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.
  • chris_ng2007@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: CHRISTOPHER NGWENYA <chris_ng15@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 11:37:24 +0200
Subject: HELP






FROM: Mr. Christopher Ngwenya
Email: chris_ng2007@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +27-73-541-3987
Fax: + 27-86 609 9749Johannesburg, South Africa.

Dear Sir/Madam

URGENT ASSISTANCE FOR THE FAMILY

please do not be embarrassed to receive this mail especially since we don’t know each other or meet in person before. I was opportune to have your esteemed particulars from South Africa Information Exchange (S.A.I.E.), in my search for a reliable person to handle a very confidential transaction, which involves a transfer of fund to a foreign account.

my concern has centered on how I could transfer my late fathers money amounting to US$25.5 Million (Twenty-Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) out of South Africa for a better investment abroad. I am MR CHRISTOPHER NGWENYA, the son of comrade MICHAEL NGWENYA. My father was the former Zimbabwean Minister for youth, gender and Employment creation. While alive, my father stood against seizure of white farms and the distribution of it to the blacks without compensation to the white owners. I would like you to visit the web pages to read more about the story of my country and what we are going through.

www.CrisisGroup.org

Because of my father sincerity, he was killed by a planned motor accident along Harare-Masvingo Road near Mvuma Province of Zimbabwe . Before his untimely death, my father told me some few weeks earlier that he kept one diplomatic box with a private finance and Security Company in Johannesburg , South Africa which contains US$25.5 Million (Twenty-Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). He warned that he only declared the contents of the diplomatic box to the Security Company as a family treasure/ values, with insurance values of the said amount. He also told me that he used my name as the beneficiary of this money being his first child. The original document that shows the Deed of lodge, Proof of Deposit, and Depository Agreement between my late father and the Management of the Security Company was kept with the reputable South African Lawyer. Because of South African Financial Law, which bared asylum seeker/ refugee like me to operate an account that exceed US$1000 and fear of the amount involved, I decided to write to you to seek your help for this money to be transferred into your company or personal bank account while all arrangement for a hitch free transfer have been fully taken care of.

Please indicate your private phone and fax numbers, which will allow an easy flow of communication before or after sending the money into your account. I want to assure you also that this transaction is 100% risk free. As for your reward for this kind assistance, my family and I are ready to offer you 20% of the total sum while 10% will be set aside for expenses incurred in the course of the transaction.

If you are willing to help me, please try as soon as possible to get back to me through the above private telephone and fax numbers. Please, I do hope that this money will be safe when finally transferred into your account. I do hope of establishing a good relationship with you and your family after this transaction. Please for confidential reasons, I urge you to reply me on this private e-mail address. chris_ng2007@yahoo.co.uk
God bless you.

Best Regards,
MR CHRISTOPHER NGWENYA. Email: chris_ng2007@yahoo.co.uk Tel: + 27-73-541-3987
Fax: + 27-86 609 9749
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam