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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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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)
  • "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 highly confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • +27834894753 (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.
  • jsmithconsultant@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "john smith" <j_smith1148_@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: jsmithconsultant@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:18:16 +0200
Subject: URGENT FUND TRANSFER.

FROM THE OFFICE OF
DR JOHN SMITH
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT,
DEPT.OF TRANSPORT AND AVIATION.
SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA .
TEL: +27-83-489-4753
PRIVATE EMAIL:jsmithconsultant@hotmail.com

ATTN: Dear Sir/Madam,

This letter is not intending to cause you any embarrassment in what ever
form, rather an appeal for assistance. I am the Principal Accountant
attached to the Department of Transport and Aviation here in Johannesburg
South Africa. I have decided to send forth this proposal to you after some
due liberation in my department.

I have in my possession the sum of US$25Million)Twenty Five Million United
States Dollars which i discovered last month.

The above fund, which is now in a Governmental suspense account was accrued
from recent contract awarded to a foreign firm for supplies of raw materials
to my Department. This is in pursuant to the terms of our agreement under
the international monetary fund (I.M.F.) and Paris Club dept-servicing
program to pay out all outstanding dept owed to foreign firms.

I am now seeking for your assistance for the easy transfer of the
over-invoiced (surplus) amount as the foreign beneficiary of the fund when
transfered to your desginated bank account of your choice.

And also in recognition of your personal executive profile and investment
opportunities available in your country. At this juncture, I want you to
stand as the original foreign contractor to the above fund to enable me put
claim on the above sum.

I will manipulate and authenticate the payment to your name and i am
reassuring you that it is 100% risk free transaction and legitimate because
all the necessary arrangements have been made and finalized.

Finally, I have agreed to give you 25% of the total fund due to your
assistance, 5% t o be set aside for expenses made by both parties While the
remaining 70% will be for my investment in your country after the transfer.

Please if satisfied with this proposal, kindly notify me by telephone or
send a mail on my private email address jsmithconsultant@hotmail.com
including with your private mobile telephone and fax numbers so that I can
furnish you with more details on how the transaction will be done.

I will be with you in person before the fund arrives in your country, Please
note that this is highly confidential and should be treated as such and
kindly give me a call on my private telephone number +27-83-489-4753 for
further details and instructions.

Thanks and best regards
Dr.John Smith
(Principal Accountant)

_________________________________________________________________
Live Earth on the 7th July 2007, get concert updates and more on MSN!
http://liveearthsos.msn.com/Hub.aspx?mkt=en-za

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam