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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "million 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)
  • "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • davidroland_org@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <davidroland_org@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:07:44 -0500
Subject: FROM: MR. DAVID ROLAND




FROM: MR. DAVID ROLAND
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: +0027-73-988-0069
E-MAIL:davidroland_org@hotmail.com

URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
Dear Sir/Madam,

Good day! My name is Mr. David Roland, the Chief Auditor of First National Bank of South Africa (FNB) there is an account opened in this bank in 1980 and since 1990 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited.

The owner of this account is Mr. Andreas B Smith, a foreigner and a Miner at Kruger Gold Company. A Geologist by profession died in 1990. No one knows about this account or anything concerning it the account has no other beneficiary and the investigation proves to me as well that his company does not know anything about this account and the amount in the account at the moment is US$18. Million Dollars (Eighteen Million United States Dollars).

As the money is in United States Dollars I need a foreign partner/account to transfer the money overseas thus I am contacting you. Please kindly indicate and if so contact me on the above phone numbers to enable me inform you on next step to take.

I need your full co-operation to make this transaction work because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information on this account, which I will give you if you indicate your interest. I hope you can be able to handle such amount in strict confidence because this opportunity will never come again in my life. I need truthful person in this business relationship because I don’t want to make any mistake. I need your strong assurance and confidentiality.

With my position now in the office I can transfer this money to any reliable foreign account, with assurance that this money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing. All documents regarding this transaction will be destroyed once I receive confirmation of the money in your account thus leaving no trace to anything.
I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately on confirmation to receive this fund into your designated account with appropriate clearance forms from the Ministries and Foreign Exchange Departments.
At the conclusion of this business you will be given 25% (US$4,500,000.00) of the total amount, 70% (US$12,600,000.00) will be for me, while 5% (US$900.000.00) will be for expenses that we might incur during the course of this transaction.

Please note that this is our only opportunity and the way our Almighty God want to make us a rich people with Millions of United States Dollar this Year 2008, we don’t have to loose it because opportunity comes only but once in life.

Finally, please if you are interested in this transaction, all I want you to do is to send me your Private Mobile Phone and Fax Number for Easy Communication including your Personal Bank Account Details, where this money will be transfer (Your Bank Name, Bank Address, Account Number, Account Holder’s Name, Bank Branch, Identity Number, occupation, and Home Address).

Please kindly call me on the above private phone number for security reasons. While I’m looking forward to receive your immediate reply by phone or e-mail indicate above as soon as you receive this letter.
Thanks and may the Almighty God bless you and your family.

MR. DAVID ROLAND.
(Chief Auditor FNB)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam