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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• 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.
  • mariojos@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3amariojos@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:35:20 +0200
Subject: REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP


From: Mr. Mario Johnson
Department of Finance &
Economic Affairs,
Cape Town South Africa
Phone: 27-73-199-9058

REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

Dear Sir/Madam,



First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction. I am a high
placed official working with Department of Finance (& Economic
Affairs),in Cape Town South Africa. I and two other colleagues are
currently in need of a silent foreign partner whose identity we can
use to transfer the sum of Sixteen Million Five Hundred thousand U.S.
dollars. This fund accrued legitimately to us as commission from
foreign contracts, through our private connections.

The fund is presently waiting to be remitted from ABSA bank here in
South Africa to any overseas beneficiary confirmed by us as
associate/receiver. By virtue of our positions as civil servants in my
country, we cannot acquire this money in our names. Because as high
placed civil servants, we are not allowed by the civil service code of
conduct to own or operate bank accounts outside of our shores. On the
other hand, it is not safe for us to keep the money here due to
unstable political environment.

My colleagues, to look for an overseas silent partner who could work
with us to facilitate transfer of this fund for our mutual benefit,
hence the reason for this email, have mandated me as a matter of
trust.

What I am requesting from you is:

(1) to be our silent partner and receive the funds as the sole
benefactor to the contract amount which we shall secure all legal
documentation to authenticate our claim. (2) Provide a private
telephone and fax number for easy communication under your control.

(3) Receive the funds as the beneficiary, take out your commission and
keep the rest of the money until I arrive there to meet you after the
transfer is completed.

My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be shared as
follows: (1) 25% to you as commission for your co-operation and
assistance in facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 75%
belongs to me and two colleagues. You will be free to take out your
commission immediately after the money hits your country. Since our
objective is to invest the money in a foreign country, it would be
appreciated if you could also help us with advices and direction on
investing into profitable/lucrative ventures in your country for an
additional 3%.

However, this is optional, and if it is not convenient for you to
further assist us with investing the money, we can end our cooperation
after you make available to us our part of the money.

The transaction, although discrete, is legitimate and the money will be
transferred successful with all necessary back-up official documents showing
legitimate source/origin of fund.

The transfer will be affected within a period not longer than two
weeks as soon as we reach an agreement and you furnish me with a
suitable response indicating your interest for processing the
transfer. I plead with you on one issue, whether you are interested or
not, kindly do not expose this information to any one else.

I confirm that the transaction is legitimate and without any risks
either to yourself or us. Please, give me your response immediately by
return mail through my alternative email:mariojos@sify.com
<email%3Amariojos@sify.com>


Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Mario Johnson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam