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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "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)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • +27835224598 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ernest Sikupela" <ernest@peru.com>
Reply-To: ernest.s@live.co.za
Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 03:46:20 -0300
Subject: Attention!!!


*DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS*

*JOHANNESBURG,* *SOUTH AFRICA.*

*Tel: +27 83 522 4598
Email: ** ernest.s@live.co.za*





* *

* *

*Dear Sir/Madam,*



* *




*URGENT BUSINESS
PROPOSAL*

After my official enquiry from the foreign trade office of the chambers of
commerce & industry here in Johannesburg South Africa, I decided to contact
you but I did not disclose the intention to anyone else because of the
delicate nature of the project. I found your profile very interesting and
decided to reach you directly to solicit for your assistance and guidelines
in making a business investment and transfer of US$25,500,000.00(Twenty Five
million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) to your country within the next few
days.



Please I must plead for your confidence in this transaction. I am a high
placed official working with Department of (Finance & Economic Affairs) in
Johannesburg. I and two other colleagues are currently in need of a silent
foreign partner whose identity we can use to transfer this sum of money. But
at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this profitable
business investment until I get your response by email, please if you can
take out a moment of your very busy schedule today to respond back to my
private email below for more details and include your private telephone
number in your response which I and my colleagues will highly appreciate.



This fund accrued legitimately to us as commission from foreign contracts,
through our private connections.



The fund is presently waiting to be remitted from the bank here in South
Africa to any overseas beneficiary confirmed by us as associate/receiver. By
virtue of our positions as civil servants in my country, we cannot acquire
this money in our names. Because as high placed civil servants, we are not
allowed by the civil service code of conduct to own or operate bank accounts
outside of our shores. On the other hand, it is not safe for us to keep the
money here due to unstable political environment. I have been mandated as a
matter of trust by my colleagues, to look for an overseas silent partner who
could work with us to facilitate transfer of this fund for our mutual
benefit, Hence the reason for this email.



My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be shared as
follows: (1) 15% to you as commission for your co-operation and assistance
in facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 85% belongs to me and two
colleagues. You will be free to take out your commission immediately after
the money hits your account in your country. Since our objective is to
invest the money in a foreign country, it would be appreciated if you could
also help us with advices and direction on investing into profitable
ventures in your country.



However, this is optional, and if it is not convenient for you to further
assist us with investing the money, we can end our cooperation after you
make available to me our part of the money. The transaction, although
discreet, is legitimate and the money will be transferred successfully with
all necessary back-up official documents showing the legitimate
source/origin of fund.



The transfer will be finalize within a period not longer than two weeks as
soon as we reach an agreement and you furnish me with a suitable response
indicating your interest for processing the transfer. I plead with you on
one issue, whether you are interested or not, kindly do not expose this
information to anyone else. I confirm that the transaction is legitimate and
without any risks either to us or yourself. Please, give me your response
immediately by returning this mail through my alternative email address. *
ernest.s@live.co.za*



Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Ernest W. Sikupela.

Finance & Economic Affairs Dept. (South Africa)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam