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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.

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Fraud email example:

From: "john protius" <jon_pros207@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 10:31:20 +0100
Subject: My Dear How Are You Today

FROM:MR.JOHN PROTIUS
NO:101-POLE STREET
JOHANNESBUR REPUBLIC
OF SOUTH AFRICA
PHONE:27-83-688-7776
EMail:jon_pros207@hotmail.co.uk



ATTN:DIRECTOR/CEO

PROPOSAL FOR URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.


My name is Mr.JOHN PROTIUS,the elder son of Mr.JACOB PROTIUS of Zimbabwe.
This might be a surprise to you about where I got your contact address. I
got your contact address from the South African information centre network
service.


During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supports of
our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white-owned farms to his party
members and his followers, he ordered all white farmers to surrender all
farms to his party members and his followers.

My father is One of the best farmers in our country and because he did not
support Mugabes ideas,Mugabes supports invaded my fathers farm and burnt
everything in the farm,killing my father and made away with a lot of items
in my fathers farm. Before his death,my father had deposited with of the
Security Company in Johannesburg,South Africa the sum of US$18.5M (Eighteen
million five hundred thousand united state dollars).

After the death of my father, we decided to move to the Republic of South
Africa where he had deposited the money in the Security Company as
valuables. So I decided to contact overseas firm and companies that will
assist me to move this money out of South Africa because as asylum seekers
we are not allowed to operate any Bank Account within South Africa.


We have agreed to offer you 20% of the total sum for your assistance,5% will
be mapped out for any expenses that may be incurred in the course of this
transaction while 75% will be for me and my family to invest in your
country.

All I want you to do is to furnish me with your entire personal phone and
fax numbers for easy
communication.You can contact me on the above Telephone number.Note that
this transaction is 100% Risk free and absolutely confidential.


Thanks, as i wait to hear from you.

Best Regards

Mr.JOHN PROTIUS

(FOR THE FAMILY)

_________________________________________________________________
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