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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:
  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:
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "offshore account" (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 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.
  • chrisbongani103@webmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <chrisbongani4@centrum.sk>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:57:51 +0200
Subject: Good Day


Good day,
I am requesting for your assistance in a business transaction.
I work as a director of projects in the department of minerals and energy here Pretoria, South Africa.
I represent a four member committee vested with the responsibility of contracts evaluation. We (the committee) have in our possession overdue payment bills totaling Twenty seven Million United States Dollars($27,000,000.00 ) which we want to transfer abroad.
We would like you to receive this funds on our behalf because the South Africa civil service code of conduct does not allow us to operate offshore accounts hence we are contacting you.
This fund ($27,000,000.00 ) is the balance of the contract value executed in our department by a foreign firm, which we the committee deliberately over-invoiced and want to transfer to any foreign bank account you will provide.
We will require you to fill an application form that we shall submit to our country's justice department for the transfer of right and privilege of the former contractor to your name.
The actual contract cost has been paid to the original contractor, leaving the balance of the inflated ($27,000,000.00 ) mentioned above which we want to legally obtain approval from the appropriate government authorities and our apex bank for disbursement.
You will be paid 15% of this fund for your effort if we are able to reach working terms, 75% for us and 10% for tax and miscellaneous expenses in your country and our country. The business is legal and your area of specialization is not a hindrance to executing of this transaction.
I am available on this email {chrisbongani103@webmail.co.za} to entertain any questions concerning the clarity of this transaction; please, send your full names, telephone numbers and contact details for more information if you are interested.
Thank you, I wait your reply.
Regards,
Mr.Chris Bongani

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam