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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.STEVEN RICHARD, THE ZIMBABWE WHITE FARMER" <st_richard3@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: st_richard76@myway.com
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:14:04 +0000
Subject: CONTACT ME ASAP

FROM: MR. STEVEN RICHARD
TEL: +27781611940
 
Attn: Director/ Ceo,
 
My name is Mr. Steven Richard, the son of Mr. Raphael Richard of Zimbabwe. This might be a surprise to you about how I got your contact information; I got your address from a secure Internet database during my search for a foreign business partner who will assist me in transferring and investing my family fortune.
 
During the current Land invasion problem by President Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party in Zimbabwe. Mugabe repossessed most of the White owned farms. My father also lost his tobacco farm because he did not support the Zanu-PF and Mugabe in their action.  My father was latter murdered on his attempt to fight for his farm. All our family valuables were eventually burnt down.
 
Before this event my father come to South Africa and deposited his life saving of US$20,000,000,00 (Twenty Million United States Dollars) in my name in a private Security Company in Johannesburg South Africa, as family treasure.
My sister and I had to run down to South Africa to seek asylum. Due to my desperation to secure this money, I was obliged to seek for a foreign partner to help me in transferring and investing this money.
 
My status here as an asylum seeker does not permit me to operate any form of bank account or any form of business. I am also worried because President Mugabe also has some of his strong allies located here in South Africa. All I want you to do is to furnish me with your personal phone and fax number for easy communication; you can also contact me on the above telephone number and also email address.

This transaction is 100% risk free and absolutely confidential.
 
Thank and GOD bless you
Best regards,
Mr.Steven Richard
Tel: + 27781611940
 


Get the new Windows Live Messenger!

Anti-fraud resources: