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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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)
  • "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 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.
  • amosmaso@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3aamosmaso@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:59:24 -0700
Subject: From Mr. Amos A. Masondo.


From Mr. Amos A. Masondo.
Tel: +27-82.714-5586
Fax: +27-86-541-8173
Email:amosmaso@yahoo.com
**

*FROM MASONDO FAMILY.*

*Dear Sir/Madam,*
**
*My name is Amos A. Masondo the elder son of Mr. David Masondo, from the
Republic of Zimbabwe. It might be a surprise to you where I got your contact
address. I got your contact from the South African Chamber of Commerce in **
Johannesburg**.**During the current war against the Farmers in **Zimbabwe**,
from the supporters of our 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 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 lots 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 US$10.5
million,(Ten million five hundred thousand dollars) which he deposited with
a Security company in **South Africa** 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 **Republic of South Africa** where my father deposited this money.
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.*

*I decided to contact with overseas person/firm who will assist me to move
the money out of **South Africa**. This becomes necessary because as political
Asylum seekers, we are not allowed to own or operate a Bank accounts here.
If you accept this proposal, you shall receive 25% of the entire amount for
assisting us to move this money out. 70% 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 via this
E-mailAddress (*Email:amosmaso@yahoo.com <Email%3Aamosmaso@yahoo.com>)* as
soon as I get your response, I will give you more details on how we can
proceed. *

*Thanks for your anticipated co-operation. GOD bless you as i wait for your
urgent response.*

*Best regards,*
**
*MR. Amos A.Masondo.*
*(ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY).*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam