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

Fraud email example:

From: Reginald Leo <leoreginald25@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <ellroland7@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 16:33:17 +0100
Subject: Please reply back to me ASAP!!!



NAME: Ellis Roland.(Esq.)E-MAIL: ellroland7@yahoo.com.hk
Dear friend,
I am a legal representative of a well known political personality in South Africa who has some financial interest that need to be legitimized using a foreign national (not resident in South Africa) as a front.
My client has briefed and mandated me to make this contact and open up communication with you for a possible business relationship. While in government, my client used his respected official position to accumulate some funds through the awards of contracts that were inflated, the said funds in question is $5.2m. These contracts have since been executed and the contractors have been duly paid, but the balanced over-invoiced amount remains unclaimed in a transitory account with the ministry of finance, awaiting approval for payment.
My client's brief to me therefore is to source for a bold and trustworthy foreign based business person, who can act as a front in laying claims to this yet unclaimed amount. More details and procedures of how the funds will be released to you as the beneficiary will be discussed after a positive response from you, and be assured that the transaction contemplated with you will be mutually beneficial with a zero level risk.
Be informed you are to benefit or compensated with 50% of 12% of the total amount involved,(although still negotiable), while me and my colleagues will be compensated with the other 50% of the 12% for our legal duties to ensure that all goes well and the funds is released to you as the beneficiary.
Please respond A.S.A.P for details if interested, and send your reply to this email address(ellroland7@yahoo.com.hk)
Regards,
Ellis Rolaqnd.(Esq.)

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