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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:

Fraud email example:

From: rose_maf_1@zipmail.com.br
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 02:46:00 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?I=20need=20your=20trust?=

rose maafo rose_maf2006@yahoo.com

Hello dear,


Quite frankly, I know it may sound pretty strange for you on why I contacted
you, but simple reason was that we do not know each other before. It would
be very difficult for me to contact anybody here who knows me for this purpose
as I may stand the risk and chance of being betrayed because the person
would have known my weaknesses, I may even lose my life on the long run
but this is an exact opposite on contacting a you a complete stranger to
me. I always known that it would be very difficult if not totally impossible
for someone who does not know me to hurt me over this funds. I believed
in my heart that you will not fail me nor try to do anything funny.



Although we have not met before but through email communication we can know
each other very well. As matter of fact, the reason of dropping this few
words to you are because of the need to invest in your country through your
assistance. Already I have made every arrangement on how the money will
be transferred depending on how you might want it. To clear myself, Rose.
Osafo-Maafo is my name and the only daughter of former Ghanaian minister
of finance. Although he was sacked by President John Kufuor on 28 April
2006 for the fact he signed £29 million book publication contract with
Macmillan Education without reference to the Public Procurement Board and
without Parliamentary approval. You can read more on this web page http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=103713


http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1776167.htm


My father and mother was among the dead after a plane carrying at least
104 people crashed in Nigeria on 29 Oct 2006 (may their soul rest in perfect
peace). As matter of fact, £18.5 million part of the money was lodged into
account with a bank in Eruope but I'm presently staying in South Africa
writing you now.



Already the bank have advised me to employ a lawyer who will stand and see
that the funds is transferred in any way there will be no trace. I would
like you to give this a highly confidential approach. Any question you wish
to ask concerning this transaction, do not delay to ask.
I wait your response.


Regards,

rose maafo.








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