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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
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.
- zumalofamily@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Sarah Zumalo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sarahzumalo@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:24:16 -0700
Subject: IF THIS PROPOSAL APPEALS TO YOU, DO CONTACT ME ON THE FOLLOWING
EMAIL:

Dear Sir/Mama,

Good day to you, I got your contact from a Business Directory. I am contacting you based on my desire to establish a business relationship with you.

My name is Mrs. Sarah Zumalo. I am from Congo. With my son Paul zumalo, i and my son are seeking for a reliable and experienced business partner.

I have about $7.5 Million Dollars deposited with the Skye bank Plc Nigeria. I am presently living here with my son. I will like you to come up with an investment plan for this fund.

If this proposal appeals to you, do contact me on the following email address: (zumalofamily@gmail.com) for further details, please

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Sarah zumalo

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam