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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
  (+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.

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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27735821258 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • mineralresources.work.co.za@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <mineralresources.za@centrum.cz>
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:36:02 +0100
Subject: CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER MINERALS & ENERGY S/A DR PEDRO OXFORD"


DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY &
NATURAL RESOURCES SANDTON TOWERS,
JOHANNESBURG P.M.B. 12701
SOUTH AFRICA.
FROM THE DESK OF: DR.PEDRO OXFORD
[CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER]:
PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH THE EMAIL
ADDRESS BELOW.
OR YOU CALL MY DIRECT LINE.
TEL: +27 73 5821258
Email :(mineralresources.work.co.za@gmail.com}


Dear Sir/Madam,

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL

US$20.5MILLION-BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP

With trust and due respect write you this business transaction which i know will be of great interest to you I will begin by introducing myself to you as the Chief Accounting Officer, Department of Energy and Mineral resources, Republic of South Africa.

I have the privilege of having your name, courtesy of one of the International Business Journals here, and I am writing to solicit your sincere co-operation in order to redeem an investment interest currently being held under TRUST with the DEPARTMENT of ENERGY and MINERAL RESOURCES.

The said investment, which is, now valued at US$20.5M was originally purchased by MR.GARVIN MALUSI and leased in 1998 to LABROUTH INVESTMENTS LIMITED. At maturity of the contract in May 2000, several attempts have been made without success, to contact Mr. GARVIN MALUSI or any of his relatives in whose favor the cash value for the redeemed investment could be made.

As the Head of accounts in the Department, I have, with my Director General (DG) carefully initiated the process of filing a claim for the money with the hope of having the Fund Transferred abroad for investment on our behalf and, we are hopeful you will agree with our intention to arrange payment of the claim in your name. We require that you let us prepare and file the claim for the money from this Department indicating your name as the appointed beneficiary of the FUND.

Upon approval of the payment of this claim, you will Beeped, TWENTY MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$20.5 Million),and since the money will be paid directly into YOU bank account to be nominated by you, you will have the responsibility to ensure that we receive our share of the money which I and my colleague have decided will be 65% while you will keep 25% as your personal commission, and 10% will be set aside for expenses that might arise during the cause of transfer.

I have to assure you however, that we are to make the payment of the Fund possible, provided you are ready to give us a very strong GUARANTEE that our share of the fund will be secured in your Hands and that you would not betray our trust in making the transfer of the Fund into your Bank account.

This is a very safe and risk-free involvement as it is not prone to any Enquirer since we are all active partners and will not want to loose our positions in Government and the Department.

Meanwhile I demand that you keep this transaction very Private and confidential in view of our personal involvement. Full details of the processes for the claim will be provided as soon as we receive your response and acceptance to be part of this agreement. I expect the immediate indication of your interest by calling my private numbers above or alternatively by e-mail.

Kindly adopt and treat accordingly.

NB. Remember to include your private phone and fax number.

BEST REGARDS,
PEDRO OXFORD.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY and MINERAL, RESOURCES.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam