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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• 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. )
  • "for your efforts, i am prepared to offer you " (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)
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "the key word to this transaction is absolute 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "my direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
  • "robert mugabe" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: David Zuma <davidzumar03@msn.com>
Reply-To: <davidzuma50@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:20:11 +0000
Subject: PLEASE HELP YOUR BROTHER.



PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
DAVID ZUMA
JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
TEL:27-73-465-5139

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is MR.DAVID ZUMA, the eldest son of MR FRANK ZUMA,of ZIMBABWE. It might
be a surprise to you where I got your contact address, I got it from the South
African Information Network Online (SAINO)/South Africa Trade Centre.And it is
coming to you with good intention. During the current crises against the farmers
of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President,ROBERT MUGABE to claim all the
white owned farms in our country, he ordered all the white farmers to surrender
their farms to his party members and their followers.

My father was one of the great and best farmers in the country and knowing that
he did not support the presidents political ideology, the presidents supporters
invaded my fathers farm burnt down everything, shot him and as a result of the
wounds sustained, he became sick and died after five days. And after his
death, I with my younger brother decided to move out of Zimbabwe for the safety
of our lives to South-Africa.

BUT, before he died HE WROTE HIS WILL, which reads "(MY BELOVEED SON ,I
WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SUM OF ($18.5,000,000=00). MILLION U.S
DOLLARS WHICH I DEPOSITED IN A BOX WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN JOHANNESBURG
(SOUTH-AFRICA). IN CASE OF MY ABSENCE ON EARTH CAUSED BY DEATH ONLY". You
should solicit for reliable foreign partner to assist you to transfer this money
out of SOUTH AFRICA for investment purpose.

I deposited the money in your name and it can be claimed by you alone with the
deposit code. your mother has all the documents. Take good care of your mother
and brother."
From the above, you will understand that the lives and future of my family
depends on this money as much, I will be very grateful if you can assist us. I
with my younger brother are now living in South-Africa as POLITICAL ASYLUM
SEEKERS and the financial law of SOUTH-AFRICA does not allow ASYLUM SEEKERS
certain financial rights to such huge amount of money .In view of this, I cannot
invest this money in South-Africa,hence I am asking you to assist me transfer
this money out of South-Africa for investment purposes. For your efforts, I am
prepared to offer you 20% of the total fund, while 5% will be set aside for
local and international expenses and 75% will be kept for me and my family .

Finally modalities on how the transfer will be done will be conveyed to you
once we establish trust and confidence between ourselves. Looking forward to
your urgent reply .For detailed information, Please contact me on my direct
line + 27-73-465-5139,or my e-mail address .

NOTE: THE KEY WORD TO THIS TRANSACTION IS ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY.
THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE. YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY
APPRECIATED. All the best,

DAVID ZUMA

(FOR THE FAMILY)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam