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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "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)
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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 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.
  • +27731560074 (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.
  • michelsharb906@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mpho sharbalele" <mphosharbalele24024@superposta.com>
Reply-To: michelsharb906@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:42:31 -0700
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL


FROM: Mrs. MPHO SHARBALELE
25 BAERE AVENUE
SOUTH AFRICA
JOHANNESBURG
Tel: +27-731-560-074
Email: michelsharb906@yahoo.com
**

Dear, Mr./Mrs.

*STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL*

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me
personally; I am Mrs. MPHO SHARBALELE the wife of Mr. JOSEPH SHARBALELE, who
was murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe last Year. I got your contact
through world network online and your company profile, hence I decided to
write to you. Before the death of my husband, he had taken my son MICHEL to
South Africa to deposit the sum of US$18.5Million (Eighteen Million Five
Hundred Thousand united states Dollars), in one of the private security
company, as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe.

This money was deposited in a box as a family property to avoid much
demurrage from Security Company. This amount was meant for the purchase of
new machines and chemicals for the farms and established of new farm in
Swaziland. This land problem came when Zimbabwean President Mr. Robert
Mugabe introduces a new Land Act reform, which wholly affected the rich
white farmers and some few black's farmers. And this resulted to the killing
and mob action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society.
In fact, a lot of people was killed because of this land reformed Act for
which my husband was one of the victim.
*(1)http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4247993.stm (2)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2805381.stm
*
It is against this background that my son MICHEL who is currently staying in
South Africa decided to transfer my husband money to foreign account since
the laws of South Africa prohibit a refugee (asylum seeker) to open any bank
account or to be involved in any financial transaction throughout the
territorial zone South Africa. I am saddle with the responsibility of
seeking a genuine foreign partner who can assist my son with his
personal/company's account where this money could be transferred without the
knowledge of my government who are bent from taking everything we had. The
South African government seems to be playing along with them.

I am faced with the dilemma of investing this amount of money in South
Africa for fear of going through the same experience in future since both
countries have similar political history. Moreover, the South African
Foreign Exchange policy does not allow such investment as an asylum seeker.
As a person, who I have to entrust my future and of my family in his hands,
I must let you know that this transaction is risk free. And upon acceptance
of this proposal you are advice to contact my son MICHEL SHARBALELE through
this email: michelsharb906@yahoo.com or phone number :( +27-731-560-074) for
more details of the transaction while I implore you to maintain the absolute
secrecy required in this transaction. I have two options for you; firstly
you can choose to have certain percentage of the money for nominating your
account for this transaction. Or you can go into partnership with us for the
proper profitable investment of the money in your country. Whichever the
options you choose, feel free to notify me I have also mapped out 5% of this
money for all kinds of expenses incurred in the process of this transaction.

If you do not prefer a partnership I am willing to give you 25% of the money
while the remaining 70% will be for my investment in your country.

Best regards and God bless,
Mrs. Mpho SHARBALELE.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam