joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "mercy taylor" <merytaylor@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 17:57:12 +0200
Subject: WE NEED YOUR URGENT HELP








FROM MERCY TAYLOR
TEL: +27-83-536-7449
FAX: +27-83-361-1799
ADDRESS: 46 church st Ranburg, JHB South Africa
email:merytaylor@hotmail.com

WE NEED YOUR URGENT HELP

I cannot imagine the surprise this will bring to you, But please be rest
assured is with good faith and intention from a family in dare need of your
assistance to help us transfer the inheritance sum of (US$15.8 million)
FIFTEEN MILLION EIGHT HUNDERD THOUSAND US DOLLARS, into your account or
company's account, in which God will bless you for rendering a helping hand
to others.

I am MRS.MERCY TAYLOR, from LIBERIA (Currently Residing in South Africa)
The wife to the LATE BRIGADIER JOHN TAYLOR, I got your contact details in
the course of my discreet search for a reliable and God fearing person from
the JOHANNESBURG TRADE AND EXHIBITION CENTRE and after going through your
profile decided to solicit for your kind assistance. I am currently residing
with my family (SON AND A DAUGHTER) here in SOUTH AFRICA as asylum seeks and
the South Africa Fiscal Policy Law and Regulations does not allow us certain
financial right.

My husband was a BRIGADIER in charge of Arms and Ammunition procurement for
the LIBERIA Army before his death, After his death I discovered that in his
will, He specifically drew my attention to the sum of (US$15.8 MILLION),
Which he had deposited in a safe box of the PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY here in
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.The lives and future of my family depends on this
fund as such I will be grateful if you can assist us, I cannot invest this
fund in South Africa hence my asking you to assist me to transfer it out of
South Africa for investment purpose in your country.

For your efforts, I am prepared to offer you 20% of the total sum while 5%
will be set aside for expenses incurred during the course of this
transaction and the remaining 75% is for the family's investment in your
country. Please note that this transaction is risk-free and the major thing
I ask of you is to assure me the safety of the money when transferred to
your account. Further information and arrangement will commence as soon as
trust, Confidence and good relationship is established and I shall be most
grateful if you maintain the confidentiality required in this transaction.

Do not hesitate to call my son David on the above phone number for further
directives and clarification regarding this transaction and I would like you
to send me your direct telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.

I wait for your prompt response.

Thanks and God bless,

Best Regards,

MRS.MERCY TAYLOR
(For the family)


Anti-fraud resources: