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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
• 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.
  • +27833744193 (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.
  • jam_khoza_06@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: jm_khoza@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 13:32:32 +0200
Subject: STRICTLY URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL

>From the Desk of: Mr.James Khoza
(DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION)
DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY
P. B. X 62, PRETORIA
Alternative email:jam_khoza_06@yahoo.com
DIRECT TEL: +27 83 374 4193

Attn:Director/CEO.

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. James Khoza, a native of Cape Town and Director of Project Implementation, South Africa Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources. I am making this contact with you based on the committee's need for an individual/company who is willing to assist us with a solution to a money transfer. First and foremost, I apologized using this medium to reach you for a transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to Confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium. In unfolding this proposal, I want to count on you, as a respected and honest person to handle this transaction with sincerity, trust and confidentiality.

I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution of the deal described hereunder 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 Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources where I work as Director of Project Implementation and with the cooperation of four other top officials, we have in our possession as overdue payment bills totaling Fourteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$14,500,000.) which we want to transfer abroad with the assistance and cooperation 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. This amount $14.5m represents the balance of the total contract value !
executed 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 filing in an application through the Ministry of Justice 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 $14.5 million, 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 confidentiality. 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.

Endeavor to contact me immediately through my mobile telephone number above to confirm whether or not you are interested in this deal. If you are not, it will enable me scout 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 please, remember to treat this matter very confidential, because we will not comprehend with any form of exposure as we are still in active Government Service. Once again, remember that time is of great essence in this transaction.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. James Khoza

This email (and any attachment) is to be treated as confidential and may be protected by legal privileges and work product immunities. Receipt by anyone other than the intended recipient is not a waiver of any attorney-client or work product privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not use or disseminate the information contained herein or attached hereto. Should you have received this email in error, please immediately notify me by "Reply" command and permanently delete the original and destroy any copy or printout hereof. It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that this mail is virus free, and no responsibility is accepted by the Ministry of Minerals and Energy or its subsidiaries or affiliates either jointly or severally, for any loss or damage arising in any way from its use.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam