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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:
  • "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)
  • "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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)
  • "department of mineral resources" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • jamesthando3@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3ajamesthando3@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "james thando" <jamesthando25@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 13:19:24 +0200
Subject: FROM DR JAMES THANDO(TREAT VERY URGENT)


From: Dr.James Thando.
Department of Mineral Resources,
Republic of South Africa

Hello!

It is my great pleasure to write you this letter on behalf of my colleagues.
Your information was given to me by a member of the South African Export
Promotion Council (SAEPC) who was with the Government delegation on a trip
to overseas country for bilateral conference talks to encourage foreign
investors. I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in
the execution of the deal hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope
you will keep it confidential because of the nature of this business. Within
the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director of Audit and
Project Implementation and with the co-operation of three other top
officials, we have in our possession an overdue payment in US Dollar funds.

The said funds represent certain percentage of the total contract value
executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we
the officials over-invoiced to the amount of US$32,000,000.00 ((Thirty-Two
Million United States Dollars). Though the actual contract cost has been
paid to the original contractor, leaving the excess balance unclaimed.Since
the present Government is determined to pay all foreign contractor's debts
owed in order to maintain good relationship with foreign governments and
non-governmental agencies. We intend to include our bills for approvals with
the Department of Finance and the Contracts Award and Payments Committee. So
we are seeking your assistance to front as beneficiary of the unclaimed
funds, since we are not allowed to operate foreign accounts. Details and
change of beneficiary information upon application for claim to reflect
payment and approvals will be secured on behalf of you/your company. I have
the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be willing
to assist us in this transaction your share as compensation will be so
negotiated and agreed upon by both you and we on this side, before further
details will change hands to enhance our primary objective.

The mode of sharing after a successful transfer of the money into your
account, shall be 70% to my colleagues and I, for the role you will be
expected to play in this deal, we have agreed to give you 25% of the total
sum and 5% for the expenses we are going to encounter by the two parties at
the course of this transaction. The business is completely safe and secure,
provided you treat it with utmost confidentiality. It does not matter
whether you/your company does contract projects as a transfer of powers will
be secured in favor of you/your company to settle any legality. Also, your
area of specialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of
this transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will
not disappoint us. I expect your urgent response to enable us conclude this
transaction urgently without any hitch. Kindly notify me via my email for
further details upon your acceptance of this proposal.

Please reply to this
Email:jamesthando3@gmail.com<Email%3Ajamesthando3@gmail.com>

Thanks for your co-operation. Regards,

Dr.James Thando
Department of Mineral Resources,
Republic of South Africa.
E-MAIL:jamesthando3@gmail.com <E-MAIL%3Ajamesthando3@gmail.com>

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam