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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • +27739382694 (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.
  • abu_john1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "abu john" <abu_john3@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:03:07 +0000
Subject: URGENT TRANSFER

FROM: ABU JOHN

SOUTH AFRICA

EMAIL/abu_john1@hotmail.com

TELL/ +27-73-9382694
HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
ATTN: C\E\O

This mail may come to you as a surprise but plead with you to patiently read
through it before making a decision whether to assist me or not. l wish to
solicit for your assistance in the transaction which l strongly believe will
be of mutual benefit to both of us. My name is MR. ABU JOHN . the branch
manager of Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, Johannesburg Branch and
two of my colleagues wish to seek your assistance in the transfer of the sum
of USD20,000,000.00 (TWENTY MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLAR) into a foreign bank
account.

This money was deposited in a fixed deposit account in the bank by a German
national, six years ago. The length of time for the maturity of the fixed
deposit was five years which expired towards the ending of last year.
Incidentally, Mr. Peter Foster, who was the beneficiary died two years ago
and he left no body to claim this money.

All modalities for the successful transfer of this money into an offshore
bank account have been put in place and we are looking for a trust worthy
foreign partner into whose bank account this fund would be remitted to and
it is this regard that my colleagues have mandated me to provide a partner
who will assist us. We have agreed to compensate you with 25% of the total
amount if you should accept to assist us. lf you are interested in giving us
the required assistance, kindly reply this mail stating your bank accounts
and Telephone/Fax numbers for further action.

Because of the secrecy surrounding this transaction, l suggest that you
contact me only through e-mail and my telephone:, until further notice. l am
looking forward to a favorable reply from you soon. Feel free to ask any
question in this regard.
l remain,
Yours Faithfully,
MR. ABU JOHN

_________________________________________________________________
The Live Earth concert on the 7th July 2007, with more than 150 top
musicians http://liveearthsos.msn.com/Hub.aspx?mkt=en-za

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam