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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.

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "very 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
• 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.
  • +27788610900 (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.
  • pieter_anderson@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Pieter Anderson <linjim11@verizon.net>
Reply-To: pieter_anderson@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:08:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Sir/Madam


>From the desk of the dir,
Project implementation
Unit, Eskom, South Africa.
Tel: +27 78 861 0900
Email; pieter_anderson@hotmail.com
 
ATTN: Sir/Madam,
 
I must apologize for this unsolicited proposal but I want you to consider it as a request with the best of intentions. I am Mr. Pieter Anderson, Director Project implementation with Eskom South Africa and a member of the Contract Tenders Board (CTB) of the above corporation.

Your esteemed address was reliably introduced to me at the South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry in my search for a reliable individual/company who can handle a strictly confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a reasonable sum of money to a foreign account. This amount of money is total sum of US$35,000,000.00 (Thirty five Million United States Dollars), already extracted from various contracts awarded by my corporation. As a result of over-invoicing masterminded by the concerned officials, who have been drafted to represent final payment for a contract that has been executed to the corporation some years back. The money is now floating in the suspense account of Federal Reserve Bank of South Africa awaiting claim by Foreign Partner which status we now want you to assume.

Now is the optimum period to consummate this transaction. Following the presidential directive to pay all contractors personal/company¡s account. In my last meeting with the officials involved, it was unanimously agreed that 25% of the total sum will be given to you. 70% will be for my colleague, and me. While 5% will be used to-reimburse the expenses that may be incurred in the process of the transfer.

I assure you the transaction is 100% risk free as we have concluded every arrangement to protect the interest of every one involved. Likewise, all modalities for the successful transfer of this money have been worked out with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Reserve Bank of South Africa to facilitate the remittance of this money to your designated account. However. I would want to believe that you are honest enough and will not raise any misgiving attitude in any aspect of the transaction, more importantly; you will keep this transaction very confidential so as not to tarnish the confidence reposed on this official by the Government of South Africa.

lf this business proposal is of interest to you, then kindly contacts me via my direct telephone number above. Meanwhile, your immediate response will be highly appreciated. Please treat this information as confidential.
 
Best regards,

Mr. Pieter Anderson.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam