419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "i got your address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "robert mugabe" (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 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.
- +27725766117 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Pat Oates" <l_oates02@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 10:21:42 +0200
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?Greetings!?= =?windows-1256?Q?_(URGENT&_?=
=?windows-1256?Q?CONFIDENTI?= =?windows-1256?Q?AL)=FE?=

Attention:

Sir/Madam,

You may be surprised to receive this strange letter from me. I am Mrs. Pat Oates, the wife of Mr. James Oates of Zimbabwe I got your address from web site. After due consideration from your profile, I became aware and assured of your credibility to help me.

My husband was among the rich white farmers in Zimbabwe who were murdered in cold blood by the agent of the ruling government of president Robert Mugabe because my husband was against the method adopted by the government on new land reform act that wholly affected the white farmers in Zimbabwe. Before the Invasion, my husband took me to South Africa as if he foresaw the looming danger in Zimbabwe and deposited US $15.5M with a security and financial company in South Africa as a Family Valuables. Please verify the information I have given you on this web site: http://www.newzimbabwe.com/.

This money was for buying farm lands in Lesotho , Swaziland , and also machinery for the farm.
Heads of government from western world, especially Britain and The U.S.A, have voiced their condemnation against Mugabe's new land reform act. It is against this background that my son Lucas Oates has mandated me to seek foreign assistance as my late Husband indicated that the consignment is for onward shipment to his foreign partner for keeping purposes.
Presently, I am residing in South Africa as an refugee. It is clearly indicated on deposit certificate that the consignment is meant for onward shipment to my late husband foreign partner which I want to present you to the security company.
Kindly send me the below information.

*Your Full Names
*Your Full Address.
*Your Country of origin and Date of Birth.
*Your Occupation
*Your Private Phone Number.

Please note that there is no risk involved in this business, and for your effort, I am prepared to offer you 20% of the total sum when the consignment has been shipped to you in your country.
If this proposal is accepted by you, please reply urgently through my Email address and get in touch with my son Mr. Lucas Oates by phone +27 72 576 6117 so that he will then furnish you with more details. I will appreciate if you maintain the confidentiality of this matter because of the happenings in my country - Zimbabwe .

Yours sincerely

Mrs.Pat Oates.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam