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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)
  • "from the desk of" (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)
• 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.
  • +27741854671 (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.
  • febaker@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • directorengrjosephtambo@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Project info" <projectinfo08@peru.com>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 13:05:30 +0200
Subject: From the Desk of Engr. Ferry Baker


From the Desk of Engr. Ferry Baker
Director, Project Implementation

DIRECT TEL: TEL: +27 74 185 4671
Email: febaker@gmail.com<http://ca.mc588.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=directorengrjosephtambo@gmail.com>

Date: 08/05/08

Dear Sir/Madam,


STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT!

The South Africa economy has witnessed a steady growth since the end of
Apartheid. Within the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources where I worked
as director of Auditing and Project Implementation, Mining and Quarrying
alone contributes 12.3% GDP (R25.9Billion), Gold made up R19.9Billion of the
yearly export while Base metals and other mineral products contribute
R6.7Billion and R5.0Billion respectively. This figure excludes Diamond,
which is quoted separately.

The Government has continuously strived to improve and maintain good
relationship with foreign governments and Non-Governmental financial
agencies by ensuring payments for all debts owed to foreign contractors. As
a matter of fact, the Government has sponsored several trade delegations
overseas to improve and attract foreign investments to South Africa.

I write, asking for your indulgence in re-profiling funds to tune of Twenty
Five Million, Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$25.8m) which
we want to keep safely overseas under your supervision. In other words, we
would like you to receive the said funds on our behalf. The Funds were
derived over time from a project awarded to a foreign firm by my Department,
and presently the actual contract cost have been paid to the original
project executors, leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which
we have in principle obtained approval to remit overseas.

Currently, I work as a Director of Projects at The Department of Minerals &
Energy here in Pretoria. I have the authority and approval of my partners
involved in this transaction to negotiate a suitable compensation for your
participation and I propose 22.2 percent, while we also propose that we
receive 46.6 percent and 31.2 percent be earmarked for purposes of taxation.

This endeavor has a minimal risk factor on your part provided you treat it
with the utmost discretion. You are advised to reach me through email; (
febaker@gmail.com<http://ca.mc588.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=directorengrjosephtambo@gmail.com>)
for further clarification.

I await in anticipation your fullest co-operation.

Best regards,


Engr.Ferry Baker



DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam