419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "transfer into your account" (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)
- "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)
- "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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "geoffreybudlender@hotmail.com" (This email address looks like addresses used in fake loan scams. Be suspicious of any lender who uses a free webmail address or who is based in different country from yourself.)
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.
- geoffreybudlender@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "GEOFFREY BUDLENDER (DEPT OF MINERAL AND ENERGY)"
<info@deptmineral.co.za>
Reply-To: <drmarkgibson@gala.net>
Date: Wed, 23 May 2012 12:29:46 +0800
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE (TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

This Email is for your kind attention:
URGENT RESPONSE (TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

With a warm heart I offer my friendship and my greetings, I hope this email meets you in good time. It will be surprising to you to receive this proposal from me since you do not know me personally. However, I am sincerely seeking your confidence in this transaction, which I propose with a free mind and as a person of integrity. I am Mr. Geoffrey Bud lender, a native of Kwazulu-Natal province in the Republic of South Africa, and presently one of the Directors with the department of Minerals and Energy (contract award committee).
I only got your contact details from the South Africa Exchange Information On-line Service on my personal Programmed search on the Internet for a reputable company or individual to assist me sincerely & confidentially. Your information & profiles were very satisfactory, so I decided to contact you immediately.

1. PURPOSE: I am humbly seeking for your assistance in the transfer of $8.5Million (Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) to your foreign account for the purpose of Investment with benefits. Hence I urgently request for your assistance.

2. SOURCE OF FUNDS: This amount to be transferred to your account came from an over-invoiced contract for the refurbishment of Mines and Supplies in Kruger Gold Mine sector in the year 2010 by the Expatriate Company of Late Mr. Lundstrom Johansson (DECEASED). The contract which was originally valued for Fifty Million United States Dollars but was manipulated to read Fifty Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$58.5M). The Extra /Surplus / Over-invoiced amount of Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$8,500,000.00) is what I want to transfer into your account with my other colleague. This contract has since been executed in year 2010 and the contractors have been paid all their contract bills remaining the over-invoice amount of Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$8.5m) which we want to transfer.

3. REQUIREMENT: What we expect from you in your reply are the following so that we can proceed:

(i) Your direct telephone, fax number and contact address.
(ii). your full names or data page of your identity, personal company / Work profile

4. DISBURSEMENT: We have resolved that you take 30% of the total amount for your participation after the transfer and the balance 70% would be left for us.

5. SECURITY: All modalities for the transfer of these funds have been put in place and I have to use this opportunity to assure you that the transfer process is a 100% risk free and as such you should open up your mind and work with me.

6. FINALLY: The other point to note is that the nature of your work or business does not or will not affect or hinder the outcome of this transaction. What is required most is your total dedication and cooperation.

Please reply to my personal address for security reasons: geoffreybudlender@hotmail.com

Thanks,
Mr. Geoffrey Bud lender

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam