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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "offshore account" (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 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.
  • +27866024557 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "mokitapat Gazeta.pl" <mokitapat@gazeta.pl>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 16:36:11 -1200
Subject: Potential Business Offer


Good day,

I am requesting for your assistance in a business transaction. I work as a
director of projects in the department of minerals and energy here
Pretoria,South Africa. I represent a four member committee vested with the
responsibility of contracts evaluation.

We (the committee) have in our possession overdue payment bills totaling
Twenty seven Million United States Dollars($27,000,000.00 ) which we want to
transfer abroad. We would like you to receive this funds on our behalf
because the South Africa civil service code of conduct does not allow us to
operate offshore accounts hence we are contacting you.This fund
($27,000,000.00 ) is the balance of the contract value executed in our
department by a foreign firm, which we
the committee deliberately over-invoiced and want to transfer to any foreign
bank account you will provide.

We will require you to fill an application form that we shall submit to our
country's justice department for the transfer of right and privilege of the
former contractor to your name.The actual contract cost has been paid to the
original contractor,leaving the balance of the inflated ($27,000,000.00 )
mentioned above which we want to legally obtain approval from the
appropriate government authorities and our apex bank for disbursement.

You will be paid 15% of this fund for your effort if we are able to reach
working terms, 75% for us and 10% for tax and miscellaneous expenses in your
country and our country. The business is legal and your area of
specialization is not a hindrance to executing of this transaction.

I am available on my email,Tel/Fax: +27 86 602 4557 to entertain any
questions concerning the clarity of this transaction; please, send your full
names, telephone numbers and contact details for more information if you are
interested.

Thank you, I wait your reply.

Regards,

Mr. Patrick Mokita.

NOTE: I know there may be scams and junk mails flying here and there on the
internet but certainly, this is not one. Please do not fail to understand
that in spite of all that, opportunities of this kind still abound. If you
have ever wished or prayed for something good to come your way, now I urge
you to take this message seriously and with an open mind. You could never
know. This may be an answer to your prayers. So please give it a benefit of
doubt, and with good faith and trust join me and I am assuring you now that
you will never be disappointed.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam