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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:
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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:
  • "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)
  • "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Monica Phundu" <mrsphund@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mronca@live.co.uk
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:06:16 -0700
Subject: Greetings From: Mrs. Monica Phundu,


Attn:

Thanks for the details and information.I have interest of investing in your
country as well as seek your services in a private and confidential
matter.Let me know if you can handle it. I really want to invest in your
conutry. I am Mrs. Monica Phundu, a nationality of Zimbabwe. I wish to
inform your reputable self/firm on behalf of my entire family and my Son,
Mr. Louis Phundu about an immensely beneficial business transaction that
involves the sum US$57.4M (Fifty Seven Million Four Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars) which was deposited by my late husband in the name of our
only son Mr. Louis Phundu in a private Security Company before his untimely
death on the 27th of July 2001.

My family is presently in Benin Republic as asylum seekers/refugees owing to
the land reform crises in my country Zimbabwe which lead to the death of my
late husband Philip Phundu, Consequently, we have decided to invest and
re-settle outside the African continent due to geometric economic depression
and increase in crises which leads to abuse of human rights, devaluation of
currencies, acute scarcity of food and other amenities. I hope you may have
heard of the crises in Zimbabwe over the CNN AND BBC news.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/africa/08/12/violence.zimbabwe/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/zimbabwe/article/0,2763,562148,00.htmlIn fact, we
would want you to assist us in the following areas:
(1)To assist in transferring the money into your private account or company
bank account for our investment in your country.(2) To advise us on the
profitable and reliable investment opportunities in your country etc.The
modalities have been put in place while you are due for 20% commission for
your services while 80% will remain for my family investment. Please feel
free to contact me back as quickly as possible for more clarifications.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Monica Phundu
(For the family)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam