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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)
  • "million 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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +27782075328 (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.
  • mrsmaria.james@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <mrsmaria.james@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 06:01:06 -0500
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE



From: Mrs. Maria James Tsvangirai241 Sidney AveWaterkloof, PretoriaSouth AfricaEmail:( mrsmaria.james@yahoo.com)Phone: Tel: +27782075328

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Mrs. Maria James Tsvangirai, from Zimbabwe Southern Africa.
I am the wife of Late James Tsvangirai, owner UZZI farm Ltd and a brother to MDC Party Leader Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai, affected by President Mugabe's land reform acts which is depriving us of rights in all facets.
I have $12.5Million dollars which I will like to invest for my children Miss Agnes and Mr. Mack with your firm /company since I am not business inclined following the loss of my husband.

If you are interested do get back to me for more information or call my son Mack on (+27782075328) you can also contact me by replying this mail or through my private email: (mrsmaria.james@yahoo.com)
You may wish to read about the problems in Zimbabwe my country through the following links clearing any doubt in my proposition and to ascertain my reasons of contacting you and the situation we are in.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm
http://news.bbc.co .uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm
& nbsp;

Waiting for your urgent response
Yours truly
Mrs. Maria James Tsvangirai
(For the Family)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam