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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic immunity"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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. )
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +27739178065 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Williams Moyo" <andovale@paraisonet.com.br>
Reply-To: moyo.williams1@grad.com
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:47:36 -0300
Subject: URGENT CO-OPERATION NEEDED.



Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Williams Moyo, the elder son of Mr. Dennnis Moyo from the Republic of Zimbabwe. During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supporters of President Robert Mugabe, in his effort to chase all the white farmers out of the country, he ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and his followers. My father, was one of the best and successful farmers in our Country and formerly the Assistance/Junior Finance Minister of Robert Mugabe administration, but he did not support the idea of dispossessing the white farmers of their land. Because of this, his farm was invaded and burnt by government supporters. In the course of the attack, my father was killed, and the invaders made away with a lot of items from my father's farm. And our family house was utterly destroyed. My mother died too out of heart attack. Before the death of my father, he drew my attention to the sum of $14,600,000 (Fourteen Million, Six Hundred Thousand US Dollars), which he deposited with a security company in Europe during his tenure as the Finance Minister of Zimbabwe.

My sister and I decided to move out of Zimbabwe for our own security, because our lives were in danger. We decided to move to the Cape Town, South Africa as political asylum where my father deposited this money first. Till date, the security company is not aware of the content of the consignment because my father used his diplomatic immunity as at that time to deposit the consignment as important personal valuables. We decided to have contact a trust worthy overseas person/firm who will assist me to move the money out of Security Company. This becomes necessary because as political asylum seekers, we are not allowed to own or operate a bank account and our financial situation right now in South Africa and we believe as soon you willing to assist us then try all we can to travel down to meet you .If you accept this proposal, you shall receive 20% of the entire amount for assisting us to move this money out, 75% of this amount shall be for us, and the remaining 5% shall be mapped out for expenses incurred in the course of the transaction.

I want you to immediately confirm your interest in the project, as soon as I get your response, I will give you more details on how we can proceed. Thanks for your anticipated cooperation. I can be reached with the below telephone number. I await your Urgent response

Best regards,

Williams Moyo
Tel: +27 739178065

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam