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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +27839925113 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • ibrahimsfamily@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "ISAH IBRAHIM" <ibrahimsfamily1@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 07 Oct 2005 16:56:46 +0200
Subject: PLS SIR/MADAM,WE WAIT FOR YOUR KIND RESPOND.

FROM:ISAH IBRAHIM AND FAMILY.
JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA.
Tel:+27-83-992-5113



Hello Dear,


I have sent to you this letter before, though you may be surprised to
recieve this letter from me since you do not know me personally, I am ISAH
IBRAHIM the first son of ALHAJI ABDUL IBRAHIM who was recently murdered in
the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through network online
hence decided to write you believing that you will not let us down.

Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit
the sum of US$18.5 Milllion(EIGHTEEN AND HALF MILLION) United States
Dollars, in one of the private security & finance company, as if he foresaw
the looming danger in Zimbabwe.

This money was deposited in a box as gem stones to avoid much demurrage from
security company. This amount was meant for the purchase of new machines and
chemicals for the farms and established of new farm in Swaziland, another
neighbouring country.

This land problem came when Zimbabwean President Mr.Robert Mugabe introduced
a new Land Act reform which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some
few blacks farmers. And this resulted to killings and mob action by
Zimbabwean war veterans and some opportunist lunatics in the society. In
fact, a lot of people were killed because of this land reformed Act for
which my father was one of the victim.

It is against this background that, I and my family who are currently
staying in South Africa decided to transfer my father’s money to foreign
account since the law of South Africa prohibit a refugee (asylum seeker) to
open any bank account or to be involved in any financial transaction
throughout South Africa.

As the eldest son of my father, I am saddled with the responsibility of
seeking a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred
without the knowledge of my government who are bent on taking everything we
've got. The South African government seems to be playing along with them.

I am faced with the dilemma of investing this amount of money in South
Africa for fear of going through the same experience in future since both
countries have similar political history . Moreover, the South African
Foreign Exchange Policy does not allow such investments for an asylum
seeker.

As a business man, whom do I entrust my future since both my future and that
of my family are in my hands.I must let you know that this transaction is
risk free.If you accept to assist me and my family,do not hesitate to inform
us so that we can forward to you the lay down plan on how we will achieve a
smooth transfer.

This money, I intended to use for investment.I have two options for you,
firstly you can choose to have certain percentage of the money for
nominating your account for this transaction. Or you can go into partnership
with me for proper profitable investment of the money in your country.
Whichever of the options you want, feel free to notify me I have also mapped
5% of this money for all expenses incurred in the process of this
transaction. If you do not prefer partnership I am willing to give you only
20% of the money while the remaining 75% will be for our investment in your
country.

Pls. Contact me with this alternative E-mail address:
ibrahimsfamily@hotmail.com while I implore you to maintain the absolute
secrecy required in this transaction.I will apreciate your urgent response
towards this our request.

Thanks and GOD bless you.

Yours Faithfully,

ISAH IBRAHIM.
(FOR THE FAMILY).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam