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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +27732251470 (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.
  • j.hans102@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: j.hans102@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 06 Aug 2006 10:14:58 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL

From: Mr. Joas Hans
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Helpline+27-732-251-470
E-Mail: j.hans102@yahoo.com

BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Dear Sir/Madam,

I hope this email will meet you in a good health. I am Mr. Joas Hans a Financial Management Consultant. I am the Personal Financial adviser to late DR.H. Alireza a foreigner who has lived in Zimbabwe for the past Twenty (20) years and whom herein after shall be referred to as my client. He lost his life in the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe (Southern Africa).

Now that the Directors of the Securities/Finance Company where the Funds is deposited have asked me to present the next of kin of my deceased client, I therefore seek your consent to present you as the beneficiary since you have the same last name (Surname) so that the proceed of the account which is TEN Million United States Dollars (US$10,000,000.00) can be transferred into your private or company's account in your country.

All legal documents pertaining to the Funds shall be obtained in your favor and will be forwarded to the Securities/Finance Company. All I require is your honest assistance & cooperation to enable us see this transaction through as I guarantee that, this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement. The source of his funds for your information is through sales of farm tractors and equipments, which he traded on. As you are aware, this money is clean, clear of criminal origin and of no lien.
For your role in the transaction, you will be compensated with 30% and 30% for me and the remaining 40% will be use for a join venture investment we will embark upon with in your country base on your recommendation.

Finally, I will like you to include your private telephone and fax numbers in reply to this mail for mutual understanding.

Hope to hear from you soon

Regards,

Mr. Joas Hans.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam