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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "steve igho" <steve11_igho11@msn.com>
Reply-To: steveigho@zwallet.com
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 23:09:35 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY


From the Desk of: Dr.Steve Igho. B Sc
(CTU) M. Sc,
Director, Project
Implementations
CORPORATE TELEPHONE TEL: +-27-730504334 CONFIDENTIAL
TEL: +-871-
763421034
CONFIDENTIAL FAX:
+-871-763421035



Sir/Madam,

I am Dr. Steve Igho a native of Cape Town in South Africa and I am a
Director of Project Implementation with the South Africa Department of
Minerals and Energy. First and foremost, I apologize Using this medium to
reach you for a transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to
confidential and prompt access reposed on this medium. Be informed that a
member of the South Africa Export Promotion Council (SAEPC) who was at the
Government delegation to your country during a trade exhibition gave your
enviable credentials/particulars to me. I have decided to seek a
confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described
below for the benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it as a top
secret because of the nature of this transaction.

Within the Department of Minerals and Energy where I work as a Director and
with the cooperation of four other top officials, we have in our possession
as overdue payment bills totaling Fourteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand
U.S. Dollars ($14,500,000.00) which we want to transfer abroad with the
assistance and co-operation of a foreign company/individual to receive the
said fund on our behalf or a reliable foreign non-company account to receive
such funds. More so, we are handicapped in the circumstances, as the South
Africa Civil Service Code of Conduct does not allow us to operate offshore
account hence your importance in the whole transaction.

The amount $14.5m represents the balance of the total contract value on
behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we the
officials over-invoiced deliberately. Though the actual contract cost have
been paid to the original contractor. Leaving the balance in the Tune of the
said amount which we have in principles gotten approval to remit by Key
tested Telegraphic Transfer (K.T.T) to any foreign bank account you will
provide by filling in an application through the Justice Ministry here in
South Africa for the transfer of Rights and privileges of the former
contractor to you.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be
willing to assist us in the transaction, your share of the sum will be 30%
of the $14.5million, 60% for us and 10% for taxation and miscellaneous
expenses. The business itself is 100% safe, on your part provided you treat
it with utmost secrecy and confidentially. Also your area of specialization
is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction. I have
reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me.
Endeavour to contact me immediately through my direct Tel/Fax numbers above
weather or not you are interested in the deal. If you are not, it will
enable me sort for another foreign partner to carry out this deal I want to
assure you that my partners and myself are in a position to make the payment
of this claim possible provided you can give us a very strong Assurance and
Guarantee that our share will be secured and pleased remember to treat this
matter as very confidential matter, because we will not comprehend with any
form to exposure as we are still in active Government Services and remember
once again that time is of the essence in this business.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Steve Igho



DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam