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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: stevenkumalo@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2004 00:53:14 +0200
Subject: Partnership / Investment Assistance

Dear Sir/ Madam,

It is my great pleasure to write you this letter on
Behalf of my colleagues. I was part of the government delegation on
a visit to your country as part of a routine business trip by the
Government to encourage foreign investment in the country. During this
trip, I got your contact through my search for a reliable individual
And/or company to help me and my colleagues, in transferring a reasonable
Amount of money overseas.

After going through your profile, I decided
to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of
a deal hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you will
Keeps it confidential considering the nature of this transaction?
Within the Department of Minerals and Energy where I work as a
Director of Audit and Project Implementation, with the co-operation
of two other top officials, we have in our possession an overdue
Payment in US$24,500,000.00 (Twenty four Million, Five Hundred
Thousand US dollars).

The said fund represents certain percentage (%) of the contract
Value executed on behalf of my department by a foreign contracting
Firm which we over-invoiced to the amount of US$24,500,000.00
{Twenty-four Million, Five Hundred Thousand US dollars}.

Though the actual contract cost has been paid to the original contractor,
Leaving the excess unclaimed. Since the present elected A. N. C.
Government is determined to pay foreign contractors all debt owed,
so as to maintain good relationship with foreign Governments and non
Governmental agencies, we have included our bill for approval with the
Department of Finance and the Reserve Bank Of South Africa [RBSA].

We are thus seeking your assistance as the beneficiary of the
Unclaimed funds, since we are not allowed to operate a foreign account.
Details and change of beneficiary information upon application for
claim to reflect payment and approval will be secured on your behalf or your
Company.

I will have the authority of my colleagues involved to propose that, should
You be willing to assist us in this transaction. Your share of compensation
Will be (25%) while my colleagues and I will have (70%) and the balance of (5%)
Will be for taxes and miscellaneous expenses incurred. This business is
Completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with utmost confidentiality.
It does not matter whether You/your Company does contract project of this nature
as a transfer of contract rights and privileges will be secured in favour of
you/your Company.

Kindly notify me on your acceptance for further details of this
Proposal via e-mail and or Tel/Fax and provide me with your Fax
and telephone number and more detail will be provided to you.
Thanks
Best regards,
Mr Alpheus Khumalo
Reply E-mail Address kumaloalph@netscape.net
TEL / FAX +27 11 507 6816


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