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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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +27736315177 (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.
  • richadams@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: richadams@sify.com
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:06:31 +0200
Subject: Business Proposal

FROM:RICHARD ADAMS
SOUTH AFRICA
PHONE+27-73-631-5177
EMAIL: richadams@sify.com

Sir/Madam,

I wish to introduce my good self as Richard Adams. The elder son of
Alex Adams of Zimbabwe. This might be a surprise to you on how I got
your
contact address; I got your contact through internet work line. I was
convinced to solicit for your assistance after much prayer. I am
interested in doing business with you, particularly in joint venture in
your
country on lucrative business.
During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the support
of our President ROBERT MUGABE to claim all the white and black farms
in our country, so he ordered all the white and black farmers to
surrender all their farms to his party members and his followers, and
my
father is one of the best farmers in our country, because he did not
support
his idea and his supporters invaded my father's farm and burnt
everything in the farm and killed my father and confiscated all his
investment.
After the death of my father, I decided to move out of Zimbabwe because
my life is still in danger, with the money, my father kept in his
hidden safe in my mother's house, since he does not have any account
with
any bank due to illiteracy but was successful in farm production. The
amount contained in the safe is US$12.5(Twelve Million, Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) and I decided to move with the money
through
diplomatic means and I am currently forced to seek a political asylum
as refugee.
I brilliantly transferred and deposited it with a Security and Finance
Company here in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, meanwhile I was
advised by a banker who had agreed to help in the depositing and
transferring of this fund to seek for a reliable foreign partner who is
going
to assist me in the opening of a non-resident account here which he
advised is the best possible way of transferring this fund because of
my
political status, He said it will be more safety pending when I get
reliable somebody that will assist receive the fund in his foreign safe
account and at the same time give me light of investment, based on
business idea/knowledge you may have.
However my aim of contacting you is to help me look for a profitable
investment overseas. As a result of my present status and as a refugee
I
will not be able to conclude this transaction alone. If you are
interested in helping me out, try and contact me immediately with the
above
number or e-mail address and call me also on the phone number
indicating
your interest to help me. I will then furnish you with more details.
I have mutually agreed to compensate you with 15% which is your share
for assistance, and 5% for any expenses that may incur in the course of
the transaction. Then the remaining 80% will be for me and my family,
which you will help us to invest in your country. Be informed that this
transaction need utmost trust and confidentiality and will only take
about 2-3 working days to be concluded, note also that this transaction
attract no risk on your side hence all the modalities is safe, smooth
successful transaction has been arranged by me and the banker who will
assist us in this business. I also look forward to establish a good
relationship with you. On your replying, I need your personal TELEPHONE
AND
FAX NUMBERS for easy communication, VERY IMPORTANT.
BEST REGARDS
Richard N. Adams
(FOR THE FAMILY).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam