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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • ggrichmann@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. George Richmann" <rgrevolutions@orange.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:50:42 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Blessed 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 responsi=
bility of contracts evaluation.

We (the committee) have in our possession overdue payment bills totaling Tw=
enty 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 beca=
use the South Africa civil service code of conduct does not allow us to ope=
rate offshore accounts hence we are contacting you.This fund ($27,000,000.0=
0 ) is the balance of the contract value executed in our department by a fo=
reign firm, which we the committee deliberately over-invoiced and want to t=
ransfer 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 th=
e 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 approp=
riate 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 w=
orking 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 specializa=
tion is not a hindrance to executing of this transaction.

I am available on my email ggrichmann@gmail.com 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 info=
rmation if you are interested.

Thank you, I wait your reply.

Regards,

Dr. George Richmann.

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 k=
now. 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