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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.
  • dr.frankwilliams@galmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3adr.frankwilliams@galmail.co.za

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 09:04:33 -0800
Subject: FROM.DR.FRANK (TREAT VERY URGENT)


From: Dr.Frank williams
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:dr.frankwilliams@galmail.co.za<Email%3Adr.frankwilliams@galmail.co.za>
Thanks for your co-operation.

Regards,
dr.frank williams
Department of Mineral Resources,
Republic of South Africa.
E-MAIL:dr.frankwilliams@galmail.co.za<E-MAIL%3Adr.frankwilliams@galmail.co.za>

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam