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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:
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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is highly 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)
• 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.
  • +27835224595 (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.
  • morgan_shorna@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: morganshorna3@mobimail.mn
Reply-To: morgan_shorna@myway.com
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 17:20:11 +0200
Subject: Mrs Morgan Shorna


Mrs. Mary Shorna.
17 Oxford Road Johannesburg,
South Africa
Phone:+27 83 522 4595
<morgan_shorna@myway.com>morgan_shorna@myway.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not
yet met. I could have notified you about it at least for the sake of your
integrity. But please accept my sincere apologies.

I am Mrs. Mary Shorna , the wife to late Morgan R. Shorna the former
Minister of Land and Agriculture in Zimbabwe, who was assassinated on the
18th of January 2005 by some of President Robert Mugabe's aides. I managed
to get your contact (email) details
through your Country Online services here in Johannesburg South Africa in my
desperate search for a trustworthy person to assist me in this confidential
business.

My late husband, Morgan R. Shorna urges President Robert Mugabe to hand over
the power or he my husband will resign after the much talked about Land
Reform Policy that denies white farmers their farm land which my husband
highly opposed.

After my husband's official resignation on the 16th of January2005,
President Robert Mugabe, sent his aides "police" to beat up my husband in
our home which lead to my husband's death.

My late husband, Morgan R. Shorna made some deposit in a Security Company in
the Republic of South Africa for purchasing of Farm Equipments amounting to
US$22.7 MILLIONS (Twenty Two Millions, Seven Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) in cash. This amount of money was transferred into South Africa
through diplomatic channels.

After his death, I and my son being in Johannesburg , South Africa , decided
to transfer the money out side the shores of South Africa for my family use
since it is the only money that my family can lay hand on and I have all the
original depositary documents of the money that was kept in a Security
Company.

My son and I are currently living in Johannesburg while waiting for an
appeal lodged by a lawyer on our behalf to the Department of Home Affairs,
for our refugee status' application. We are having it difficulty in
operating any type of bank transaction for the transfer of the money as the
South African monetary policy is not favorable to people like us (refugee)
who have no permanent residence status.

In acknowledgment of executive powers and the various business opportunities
in your country, I am requesting your assistance in helping me transfer this
money into your personal or business account. After the transfer is
accomplished, my son and I will then follow you for subsequent investments
in your Country.

For your assistance in this transaction, I offer you 30% of the total sum
for compensation. And all other expenses you incur during this operation
will be credited to you.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or my son. All documents concerning
this transaction will be made available to you for your safety and as a
proof that this money is not from any criminal origin. I must then emphasize
that this operation/transaction is highly confidential and is to be kept as
such. Kindly provide me with your full names, private phone and address or
you can call on this my phone number for more details. {+27 83 522 4595} or
email my son. morgan_shorna@myway.com

Best regards,
Mary Shorna Mrs.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam