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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dr.smithmpoyo@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
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.
- dr.smithmpoyo@jmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Smith Mpoyo" <ukdesk@mondetube.com>
Reply-To: dr.smithmpoyo@jmail.co.za
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:35:35 +0300
Subject: [spam] Re: From Dr.Smith Mpoyo (Treat As Very Urgent Please Reply) $28.5m
Transfer To Your Acount

I am Dr.Smith Mpoyo, Director of Project , South Africa Department of
Minerals and
Energy. I am making this contact with you based on the Committee need for an
individual/company who is willing to assist us with a solution to a money

transfer.
This amount $28.5m represents the balance of the total contract Value
Executed on behalf of Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we
the officials
over-invoiced deliberately, of which the actual sum has been paid.

Should you be willing to assist us in the transaction? Your share of the
sum will be
25% of the $28.5 million, 70% for us and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous
expenses. To enable us commence, I will need your personal telephone/fax

number. Please send your response to dr.smithmpoyo@jmail.co.za OR
dr.smithmpoyo@outlook.com
I await your immediate response.

Best Regards,
Dr.Smith Mpoyo

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam