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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:

• 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:
  • "will 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)
  • "foreign exchange" (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 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.
  • +27785645404 (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.
  • fre_maha@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "FREDRICK MAHA" <fredmaha10@livedoor.com>
Reply-To: fre_maha08@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 04:58:19 -0700
Subject: =?WINDOWS-1256?Q?ONWARD_FUND_TRANSFER=FE=FE=FE=FE?=


*

From: Mr. Fredrick Maha
Tel: +27-78-564-5404
Johannesburg [JHB],
South Africa
Attn: Sir /Madam,*
I know that this message will come to you as a surprise since we don't know
each other in person before. I am *Mr. Fredrick Maha*, a Bank Manager of one
of the reputable commercial bank here in South-Africa; I won't disclose the
actual bank for now, for my own safety. There is an account opened in this
bank in the year 1991 and since the year 2001, nobody has operated on this
account, After going through some old files in the records, I discovered
that if I do not remit this money out urgently for my own use, it would go
back into the bank coffers as *"Unclaimed Fund".*
My investigation on the account, led me to knowing that the owner of this
account is Mr. Ben.Andreas, a foreigner, and the owner of mining company
Kruger gold co, was among those that died in the Concorde France Air crash
on flight 4590 at the Charles de Gaulle international airport on July 25,
2000.while on holiday to John F Kennedy International Airport, New York,
with his only daughter and wife. From our records nobody else knows about
this account or any thing concerning it except his wife, who was also in the
crash. The account is presently containing the sum (*USD 28.2M*) *Twenty-Eight
Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. We have to work together
to get this fund transfered into your off-shore nominated account as soon as
possible.*

I know that this message will come to you as a surprise as we don't know our
selves before, but transaction of this sort is all about "Trust". The
transaction is real and *100% *risk free. Please reply urgently for more
explanations. We would have to sign a binding agreement that will be drawn
by a reputable attorney to bind us together before we fully commence on the
transaction.
After the transfer I will then fly to your country for disbursements and
investments. I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner
as the account states* "NON-RESIDENT"*. I need your full co-operation to
make this work fine because the management is ready to approve this payment
to any foreigner, who has correct information of this account, which I will
give to you if you are capable and willing to handle such amount in strict
confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual
benefit, because such opportunity comes only once in life time.

I need a truthful person in this business because I don't want to make
mistakes; I need your strong assurance and trust. With my position now in
the office I could play a vital role to transfer this money to any
foreigner's reliable account, which you can provide with assurance that this
money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your country. You can
also come to discuss with me in person, at least see things yourself, we can
as well follow up things as a matter of urgency on your arrival to secure
the release approvals of the fund, after which we would travel down to your
country for disbursements and investments. Please do furnish me with the
below information to enable me file in an application for claim, if you feel
like participating in this beneficial transaction.
*1)YOUR BANK ACCOUNT
2)SWIFT CODE
3)BANK ADDRESS
4)BANK TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
5)YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT NUMBER OR DRIVERS LICENSE NUMBER
6)YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX NUMBERS
7)YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
8)OCCUPATION
9)NEXT OF KIN

But, if is not convenient for you to send to me your account details, you
could open a new account for the transaction.
*I will use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward
transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance forms from
the ministries and foreign exchange departments. At the conclusion of this
business, you will be given *25% *of the total amount, *70%* will be for me,
and while* 5% *will be for unforeseen expenses during the process of
transferring. I could be reached on my private e-mail address (*
fre_maha@hotmail.com*) and private telephone numbers *0027-78 564-5404.
*Thanking you for your anticipated co-operation, while hoping to receive an
earliest response from you.
Yours Sincerely
*MR FREDRICK MAHA
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam