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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "million 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 orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Patrick Zulu" <zulpatt_9@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:45:48 +0000
Subject: FROM MR.PATRICK ZULU

MR. PATRICK  ZULU
GAUTENG JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
Tel :00-27-7-3167-8893

Dear Sir/Madam,

With due respect, trust and humility, I write to you this proposal, which I believe would be of great interest to you. I find your contact while I was doing a private research on the Internet for a reliable and capable foreign partner that will assist my family and I to transfer fund to his personal or private account and for investment purpose. I am Mr. PATRICK ZULU  the son of Late Mr. Williams ZULU , who was the "Chairman" of the farmer’s co-operation in Zimbabwe.

My Father was among the few blacks that were murdered in cold blood by the President Robert Mugabe Administration during the land dispute that just happened in Zimbabwe. After the death of my Father, we decided to move out of ZIMBABWE because our lives were in danger because of the money that my father kept in his hidden safe in our house. The amount contained in the safe is US$25 Million Dollars (Twenty Five Million Dollars)

This money was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and establishment of new farms in Swaziland. Before his death, his is a Major Share Holder of companies in Zimbabwe. After my Father died we moved to South Africa and deposited this money in a security company in a box as valuables belonging to our foreign partner pending when we see somebody that will assist us transfer this fund to his account oversea and for the safety of our family.
We are presently in South Africa as Refugee (Asylum Seekers) and as such the law of South Africa does not permit us to operate or open any bank account here in South Africa or be involved in any financial transaction with the bank. That is why we contacted you to assist us in this transaction.
We are ready to compensate you with 20% of the total fund for accepting to assist us, I shall be glad to give you more clarification on the modalities needed for smooth successful completion of this transaction.

I anticipate your quick response.

Best regard,

Mr PATRICK  ZULU
(For and On behalf of my family)

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Live Earth, The Concert for a Climate in Crisis, on the 7th of July 2007 Live Earth Concert

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam