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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "million 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +27825475005 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: roberta@worldemail.com
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 11:20:48 +0200
Subject: THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN


FROM MRS ROBERTA BONGANI
TEL:+27-82-547-5005.

Dear. Sir/Madam/CEO,

RE: OUR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

Good day! My name is Mrs.Roberta Bongani the wife of John Bongani of Zimbabwe. This might be a surprise to you where I got your contact address. I got your address from the South African Chamber of Commerce in Johannesburg. During the current war against farmers in Zimbabwe and from the support of our President,Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our country, all the white farmers were ordered to surrender their farms to his party members and his followers.

My husband who was one of the best farmers in our country and treasurer of the farmers co-operative Union did not support his idea and so the party members invaded my husbands farms and burnt everything in the farm,killed my husband and made away with a lot of items in my husbands
farm.

Before his death,his life was threatened and he escaped two assassination attempts.He therefore moved the association,s money and his personal money to a security compay in SouthAfrica in anticipation of any eventuality.

After the death of my husband, I and my children moved out of Zimbabwe to South Africa because our lives were in danger with all the documents of the money deposited with the security company in South Africa.The amount is US$10Million (TEN Million United States Dollars) and my son and myself are the next of KIN.

So I decided to make a contact with an overseas firm whom will assist me to move this money out of South Africa, hence, I have tried several times to open an account with one of the Local Banks in South Africa but I was turned down because of my Political position as an Asylum Seeker.

It is upon this reasons that my attorney advised me to solicit for a foreign partner who will aid me to transfer this funds out of South Africa in his/her name. So if you consider this proposal, we have agreed to give you 20% of the total sum for helping us to move this money out to your country and 80% will be for me and my family to invest in your country.

All I want from you is just an assistance to transfer this money out to your country.

NOTE: That this transaction is 100% risk free and absolutely confidential.
Waiting for your prompt and positive response.
Please read about problems in Zimbabwe from the link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm

God bless you for your anticipated understanding and co-operation.
I am waiting urgently for your reply.

Mrs. Roberta Bongani

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam