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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:
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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:

• 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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +27731100275 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • mrgillmbabane@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Gill Mbabane" <gmbabane29@mail.mn>
Reply-To: mrgillmbabane@yahoo.it
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:47:46 +0200
Subject: From Gill Mbabane


From: Assistant Director
International Remittance Department
Standard Bank Limited
South Africa.

Dear Sir/Madam,

URGENT BUSINESS DEAL

I would like to start by introducing myself as Mr. Gill Mbabane the
Assistant Director of the above-mentioned department in the Standard Bank of
South Africa. I have been directed to contact you urgently on a very
important confidential deal, which needs immediate attention. The decision
to contact you was based on the fact that we trust your capability to
receive on our behalf a sum of US$8,450,000.00 (Eight Million Four Hundred
and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars).

This sum in question was a credit balance of a Foreigner, an oil
Merchant/Contractor, a Geologist by profession and a Miner at KRUGER GOLD
COMPANY LTD who died since AUGUST 6, 1997 in [Korean Air Flight 801] with
the whole passengers onboard. And for your perusal you can view this web
site: http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list. This credit was
held with our banks here in South Africa and the Director of
Account/Operations approached us since he cannot transfer this fund alone
without going through us (i.e. The International Remittance Department).

With our position and experience, we have worked out the modalities in such
a way that the transaction will take seven bank working days to accomplish.
On the receipt of your approvals, I will be in a very good position to give
you details on the agreed sharing ratio.

This may come as a surprise to you but as we progress, I will be able to
explain to you how I got your contact. Meanwhile, we are 100% positive that
you can handle this therefore, contact me on +27-73-110-0275 or E-mail:
mrgillmbabane@yahoo.it as soon as you receive this urgent message.

I am anticipating your urgent response while thanking you in advance for
your understanding and co-operation.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Gill Mbabane

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam