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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:
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "contract award committee" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • engnathan.tambo1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:39:16 +0200
Subject: TRANSACTION


DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY & MINERAL RESOURCES
SANDTON TOWERS , JOHANNESBURG P.M.B. 12701 SOUTH AFRICA FROM THE DESK OF Eng
NATHAN TAMBO. M.s
(Manager 14 Project Allocation

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a member of the contract award committee and 14 project allocation
managers, of the Department of Minerals and Natural Resources in South
Africa ; I am in search of an agent to assist us in the transfer of
(USD11.5M) and subsequent investment in properties in your country. You will
be required to.

(1) Assist in the transfer of the said funds

(2) Advise on lucrative areas for investment

(3) Assist us in purchase of properties.

If you decide to render your service to us in this regard, 25% of the total
sum of USD11.5M will be for you.Thank you and God bless, as I wait in
anticipation of your fullest co-operation. Please, respond to me via
engnathan.tambo1@gmail.com

Yours Faithfully,
Eng Nathan Tambo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam