419 scam: Confidentiality Note

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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:

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:
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
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.
- +27742472307 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
- +27862751596 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From:
Reply-To: <babaokolasan3@aol.com>
Date:
Subject: Confidentiality Note

Attention,

I am writing following an opportunity in my office that will be of immense benefit to both of us. I am manager of one of the leading bank in South Africa in my department we discovered an abandoned large sum of money US$14.7M belonging to one of our Foreign client Dr. George Brumley an American Nationality, a businessman, He was a contractor/consultant to KRUGER MINING (SA) INC a South African Government Owned Mining Company. He was a Geophysicist by profession and He died in a Kenya plane crash along with his family (wife, children and grand children). You can confirm from this website below.

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/07/21/Worldandnation/12_Americans_die_in_K.shtml
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html

I am seeking for your Co-operation to present you as the beneficiary to our late Customer.No beneficiary, No other person knows about this account. The Strategy is to use our influence as managers of the bank to approve the funds to you. So if you are interested please reply with your full names, Address, telephone and fax number for further clarification and documentations.

Sincerely yours
Mark David
Phone: +27742472307
Fax: +27862751596

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam