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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • mohau2008@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:40:48 -0700
Subject: Mr. Sipho Mohau.


* *





URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

After my official enquiry from the foreign trade office of the chambers of
commerce & industry here in Johannesburg South Africa, I decided to contact
you but I did not disclose the intention to anyone else because of the
delicate nature of the project. I found your profile very interesting and
decided to reach you directly to solicit for your assistance and guidelines
in making a business investment and transfer of *(USD$
32.500.000.00)*Thirty-Two million, Five hundred thousand United States
Dollars) to
your country within the next few days.



Please I must plead for your confidence in this transaction. I am a high
placed official working with Department of (Finance & Economic Affairs) in
Johannesburg. I and two other colleagues are currently in need of a silent
foreign partner whose identity we can use to transfer this sum of money. But
at this moment, I am constrained to issue more details about this profitable
business investment until I get your response by email, please if you can
take out a moment of your very busy schedule today to respond back to my
private email below for more details and include your private telephone
number in your response which I and my colleagues will l highly appreciate.

This fund accrued legitimately to us as commission from foreign contracts,
through our private connections.

The fund is presently waiting to be remitted from the bank here in South
Africa to any overseas beneficiary confirmed by us as associate/receiver. By
virtue of our positions as civil servants in my country, we cannot acquire
this money in our names. Because as high placed civil servants, we are not
allowed by the civil service code of conduct to own or operate bank accounts
outside of our shores. On the other hand, it is not safe for us to keep the
money here due to unstable political environment. I have been mandated as a
matter of trust by my colleagues, to look for an overseas silent partner who
could work with us to facilitate transfer of this fund for our mutual
benefit, hence the reason for this email.

My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be shared as
follows: (1) 15% to you as commission for your co-operation and assistance
in facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 85% belongs to me and two
colleagues. You will be free to take out your commission immediately after
the money hits your account in your country. Since our objective is to
invest the money in a foreign country, it would be appreciated if you could
also help us with advices and direction on investing into profitable
ventures in your country.

However, this is optional, and if it is not convenient for you to further
assist us with investing the money, we can end our cooperation after you
make available to me our part of the money. The transaction, although
discreet, is legitimate and the money will be transferred successfully with
all necessary back-up official documents showing the legitimate
source/origin of fund. The transfer er will be affected within a period not
longer than two weeks as soon as we reach an agreement and you furnish me
with a suitable response indicating your interest for processing the
transfer. I plead with you on one issue, whether you are interested or not,
kindly do not expose this information to any one else. I confirm that the
transaction is legitimate and without any risks either to yourself or us.
Please, give me your response immediately by returning this mail through my
alternative email addres.

*mohau2008@hotmail.com*

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Sipho Mohau.
Finance & Economic Affairs Dept. (South Africa)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam