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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +27738897151 (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.
  • davidzuma_0@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: david zuma <david_zuma_07@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:45:12 +0200
Subject: URGENT BUSSINESS ASSITANCE





FROM Mr. David Zuma
Johannesburg South Africa Phone: +27-73 88 97151
Email- davidzuma_0@yahoo.com

Dear Sir/Madam,
I write to introduce this urgent/important business opportunity to you irrespective of the fact that we have not seen or known each other before believing that it will be of immense benefit to both of us. Let me formally introduce myself. I am Mr. David Zuma, the Chief Auditor of AMALGAMETED BANK (ABSA) South Africa, I got your contact through the South African Chamber of Commerce in my earnest search for a reliable individual who can assist me to make this transaction a reality but I did not disclose the nature of the business to them.

With my believe in God that you will never let me down. There is an outstanding sum of US$8,500.000.00 (Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) belonging to Late Mr. Andrea Bernard Smith a foreigner and a Miner in the Kruger Gold Company, a geologist by profession who died in 2004 in an accident while traveling to Cape Town. This fund was deposited since 1995 and since then nobody has operated on this account. After going through some old files in the record, I discovered that the owner of this dormant account Mr. Andrea Bernard Smith does not exist anymore and that if I do not remit this fund out urgently, it would be forfeited for nothing. I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner with account and foreign beneficiary as the money itself is in US Dollars; I need your full co-operation to make this work out fine because the management is ready to approve this payment to a foreigner, who has the correct information of this account, which I will provide to you. Should this interest you, kindly furnish me with your overseas account details including your private phone and fax numbers for easy communication.

Meanwhile, with my position now in the office, I can transfer the money to any foreigner reliable account, which you can provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing. I will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this money leaving no trace to any place. I will also use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer of the money to your account with appropriate clearance from the South African Department of Finance. I have resolved to compensate you by briefing a brokerage commission of 25% (US$2,125.000.00) (Two Million One Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand United States Dollars) net per-transfer to you for expenses you may incur, 5% (US$425 000.00) (Four Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand United States Dollars) set aside for general expenses, while 70% (US$5,950 000.00) (Five Million Nine Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) will be for me and I guarantee you that all expenses during the transfer are subject to refund.

Most importantly, I must emphasize that this business requires the utmost confidentiality and trustworthiness. We need to make an agreement that will bind us together and the same will protect individual interest in the near future. I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm the accreditation of the fund in your would be provided account in your country and ask me to come down to your country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice us to invest in. All other necessary vital information will be sent to you when I hear from you. Regards,Mr. David Zuma.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam