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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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 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.
  • +27737988388 (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.
  • dr.frankwilliams@galmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: dr frank williams <drfrank_williams012a@msn.com>
Reply-To: <dr.frankwilliams@galmail.co.za>
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:45:57 +0000
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE OF US$32,000,000.00.TREAT VERY
URGENT)



From:Dr.Frank Williams.
Department of Mineral Resources,
Republic of South Africa

Dear Sir/Ma,

I am Dr.Frank Williams Director of Project, South Africa Department of
Minerals and Energy. I am making this contact with you based on the
Committee need for an individual/company who is willing to assist us with a solution to a money transfer.

This amount $32M represents the balance of the total contract Value
Executed on behalf of Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we the officials over-invoiced deliberately, of which the actual sum has been paid. Should you be willing to assist us in the transaction, your share of the sum will be 25% of the $32million, 70% for us and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses.

To enable us commence, please write back for complete information about
the transfer and how we are going to proceed for a smooth claim of this
fund.

Please send your response to Email:dr.frankwilliams@galmail.co.za, Tel:+27 73 798 8388

I await your immediate response.

Best Regards,
Dr.Frank Williams
Department of Mineral Resources,
Republic of South Africa.
E-MAIL:dr.frankwilliams@galmail.co.za

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam