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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
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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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "keep it 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "foreign 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 next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • mrsiphovilakazi@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: SIPHO VILAKAZI <claimdesk@financialdeskinfo.net>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:32:53 -0400
Subject: GOOD DAY




Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Mr. Sipho Vilakazi, manager of bills/exchange at the foreign remittance department of a leading bank in South Africa. In my department, we discovered an abandoned sum of US$17,500,000.00 (Seventeen Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only) in an account that belonged to one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire family, in 2003, in a ghastly plane crash, and he happened to be a Foreigner. Since we got the information about his death, we have been expecting his next-of-kin to come over and claim his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applied for it as next of kin or a business partner to the deceased as indicated in our Banking guidelines. Unfortunately, nobody has come forward to claim this money.

It is based on this that some officials in my department and I have decided to establish a cordial business relationship with you, hence by contacting you. We want you to present yourself as the business partner of the deceased, so that the funds can be remitted into your account.

The reason for requesting you to present yourself as business partner, is occasioned by, the fact that the deceased (customer) was a foreigner, and we have access to his detailed bio data which you will hold as a weapon to present yourself as the business partner/next of kin.

I am assuring you that this transaction is 100% legitimate and risk free as long as we keep it confidential, and also all necessary arrangement has be made to perfectly execute this transaction in a peaceful and lawful environment so there is nothing for you to worry about.

We are to share this money between ourselves, The mode of sharing after a successful transfer of the money into your account, shall be 60% for I and my colleagues, and for the role you are expected to play in this deal, we have agreed to give you 30% of the total sum and 10% to charity

If you are interested in this offer and if you think you are trustworthy and reliable you should contact me through this email address: mrsiphovilakazi@yahoo.com.hk <mailto:mrsiphovilakazi@yahoo.com.hk>

with the following informations
(1) Your direct telephone number(s)
(2) Your Fax number
(3) Your Full Names.
(4) Your Age.
(5) Your Occupation/Profession
(6) Your Country and address

So that I can contact you and explain to you more details regarding to this transaction and send the Bio-data of the deceased to you in order for you to apply for the release of the fund.

Please treat this business proposal as strictly confidential for security reasons considering my official position in the bank, and also for your personal security because not everyone will be happy that you have this great life charging opportunity.
Personal Regards,
Mr. Sipho Vilakazi.
Note: Reach me through this email address below if your are ready to assist me: mrsiphovilakazi@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam