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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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• 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:
  • "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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • obedgrant@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Obed G <obed_9999822@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <obedgrant@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 22:22:15 +0200
Subject: From Mr. Obed Grant



No. 232 SIMMONDS STREET, JOHANNESBURGSOUTH AFRICA
Do reply Via my Direct Email: obedgrant@gmail.com

I am Mr. Obed Grant, a Chief Accountant Auditor with Standard BANK Of South Africa.On 16 June 1999, an American mining consultant/contractor with the South African Agip Energy and Natural Resources plc, Mr. Andreas Schranner made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve (12) calendar months, valued at US$ 7 Million United States Dollars in my branch but I want to first make the transfer of $3 Million United States Dollars? Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a Reminder and finally we discovered that Mr. Andreas Schranner was dead. He died in the plane crash of 31 July2000, below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

I therefore made further investigation and discovered That Mr. AndreasSchranner did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$3, Million United States Dollars is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to South African Law, at the expiration of 10 (Ten) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the South Africa Government if nobody applies to claim the fund as unclaimed fund.
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to

Mr. Andre as Schranner so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. I will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin. A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me and 30% for you.
There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this business if you are interested Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. Upon your response to this message. Regards,
MR Obed Grant
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam