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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +27736567798 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: PHILIP THEMBA <philipthemba91@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <philipthemba@excite.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 16:59:01 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS ASSISTANCE / INVESTMENT



FROM:MR.PHILIP THEMBACHIEF AUDITOR OF ABSA BANK:THE AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA (ABSA)77 Commissioner Avenue Sandton JohannesburgSouth Africa.PRIVATE PHONE:+27-73-656-7798DATE:14TH OCTOBER 2007 BUSINESS ASSISTANCE / INVESTMENT PROPOSAL Dear Ceo/Manager,
In order to transfer out (US$30 Million) Thirty Million United States Dollars from ABSA .I have picked-up the trust and courage to write you this letter with divine confidence that you are a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important business transaction believing also that you will never let me down either now or in the future. My name is Mr.Philip Thema,a senior Auditing Officer with the ABSA Bank in South Africa.There is an account opened in this bank in 1993 and since 1999 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing.The owner of this account (Mr. Arthur Gene Billings) died since Oct 31st 1999. No other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that this company does not know anything about this account and the amount involved is (US$30 million)Thirty million united states dollars. I want to transfer this sum of Thirty million United States Dollars into a safe foreign account abroad.I am contacting you based on the fact that you are a foreigner because this money can only be approved for payment to a foreigner, more so it can not be approved by any local bank here, as this money is in US Dollars hence the former owner of this account is a foreigner too.I know that this proposal will come to you as a surprise as we don't know ourselves before, however I got your contact from an internet consultant here in South Africa, though I did not disclose the purpose of my seeking for a foreign business partner to him. Although we will still have to meet possibly, sign some agreement before the final transfer of the fund into any of your chosen designated bank account. I have involved a very senior official in the operational department and we have agreed that after the transfer of the money into your account, you shall be entitled to 20% of the total sum, we the officials will take 75% while 5% is for expenses.All necessary precautions have been taken to ensure a risk free situation on the side of both parties.Please note that this deal can only take place on the following conditions:- [1].You will provide the bank account and other relevant particulars/information for easy and onward Remittance of this money.[2].Absolute confidentiality and sincerity will be required and guaranteed, considering our (me and my partners) positions in the bank.[3].Assurance that our own due share will be released to us in good faith when this money finally gets into your account. All things being equal, this transaction will be concluded within 10 working days as soon as we hear from you. Please treat with utmost confidentiality. Contact me as quickly as possible through my e-mail box or telephone number:+27-73-656-7798. Expecting your urgent response, Best Regards, Yours faithfully,

Mr.Philip Themba
(Chief Auditor)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam