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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • ben_jacklife2004@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ben jack <benjacklife2004@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <ben_jacklife2004@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:17:27 +0000
Subject: i need your help



You may be surprised to receive this letter from mesince you don't know me personally.I am Benjamin Jack,son of Dr Simon Jack who was murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe.I got your contact through Internet network on line in my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential transaction that involves a transfer of a fund to a foreign account and I decided to write to you. My late father was among the few black Zimbabweanrich farmers murdered in cold blood by the agents ofthe ruling government of President Robert Mugabe forhis alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabwean opposition party controlled by the entire minority. Before his death he had taken to this country Togo,todeposit the sum of US$20 Million(Twenty millionUnited States Dollars) with a security company here in a trunk box as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was embarked from the purchase of newmachinery and chemical for farms and the establishmentof new farms in Lesotho,Swaziland.This land problemarose when President Robert Mugabe introduced a newland act that wholly affected the rich white farmersand some few blacks vehemently condemned the "ModusOperandi"adopted by the government. This resulted to rampant killing and mob action by the war veterans and some political thugs.Precisely, more than thirty one (31) people have so far been killed.Heads of government from west,especially Britain and United States of America have voiced their condemnation of Mugabe's plans. Subsequently, TOGO Development Community (TDC)has continually supported the Mugabe's new land act,it is against this background that I and my family who are currently residing in Lome,the capital city of this country the Republic of Togo and we have decided to transfer this my fathers money outside here to a foreign account. As the eldest son of my father,I am saddled with theresponsibility of seeking a genuine foreign accountwhere this money could be transferred without theknowledge of my government who are tactically freezingour family wealth and TOGO government seems to beplaying along with them.I am faced with the dilemmaof investing this money in TOGO for fear ofencountering the same experience in future since bothcountries have almost the same political history. More so,the Togo foreign exchange policy does not allow such investment hence we are seeking for an asylum.As a business person whom I entrusted my future and that of my family into his hands,I must let you know that this transaction is 100% risk free and the nature of your business does not necessarily matter.For your assistance, we are offering you 25% of the total sum,70% for my family and while 5% will be mapped out for any expenses we may incur during thecourse of this transaction. We wish to invest our partof the money on commercial property based on youradvice. Finally, all we need from you is assurance that youwill not sit on this money when it finally gets intoyour personal or company account in your country. Ifthis proposal is acceptable by you, please confirmyour interest . Best regards,Benjamin Jack. Email;;;ben_jacklife2004@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam