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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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)
  • "department of mineral resources" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • nelsonsmith@pnetmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: nelsonsmith@webmail.co.za
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:34:49 -0800
Subject: URGENT RESPOND

From: Mr NELSON SMITH
Department of Mineral Resources,
Republic of South Africa.
Tel:0027 74 173 8353

Dear Friend,

It is my great pleasure to write you this letter on behalf of my
colleagues. Your information was given to me by a member of the South
African Export Promotion Council (SAEPC) who was with the Government
delegation on a trip to overseas country for bilateral conference talks
to encourage foreign investors. I have decided to seek a confidential
co-operation with you in the execution of the deal hereunder for the
benefit of all parties and hope you will keep it confidential because
of the nature of this business.

Within the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director of
Audit and Project Implementation and with the co-operation of three other
top officials, we have in our possession an overdue payment in US Dollar
funds. The said funds represent certain percentag e of the total contract
value executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting
firm, which we the officials over-invoiced to the amount of
US$28.500,000.00 (Twenty Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars).
Though the actual contract cost has been paid to the original contractor, leaving the
excess balance unclaimed.

Since the present Government is determined to pay all foreign
contractor's debts owed in order to maintain good relationship with
foreign governments and non-governmental agencies. We intend to include
our bills for approvals with the Department of Finance and the Contracts
Award and Payments Committee. So we are seeking your assistance to front
as beneficiary of the unclaimed funds, since we are not allowed to operate
foreign accounts. Details and change of beneficiary information upon
application for claim to reflect payment and approvals will be secured on
behalf of you /your company.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you
be willing to assist us in this transaction your share as compensation
will be so negotiated and agreed upon by both you and we on this side,
before further details will change hands to enhance our primary objective.
The mode of sharing after a successful transfer of the money into your
account, shall be 70% to my colleagues and I, for the role you will be
expected to play in this deal, we have agreed to give you 25% of the
total sum and 5% for the expenses we are going to encounter by the two
parties at the course of this transaction.

The business is completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with
utmost confidentiality. It does not matter whether you/your company
does contract projects as a transfer of powers will be secured in favor of
you/your company to settle any legality. Also, your area of
sp e cialization is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this
transaction. I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will
not disappoint us.

I expect your urgent response to enable us conclude this transaction
urgently without any hitch. Kindly notify me further details upon your
acceptance of this proposal.

Kindly get back to me on my private email address;nelsonsmith@pnetmail.co.za

Thanks for your co-operation.

Regards,
Mr NELSON SMITH

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam