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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: "Arhu Mccarthy." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <arhumccarthy@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2010 08:12:32 -0700
Subject: Inquiry

Attention: The President/CEO

Dear Sir,

Confidential Business Proposal

Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the information gathered from the South

Africa Chambers Of Commerce And Industry, I have the privilege to request your assistance

to transfer the sum of $16,500,000.00 ( sixteen million, five hundred thousand United

States dollars) into your accounts. The above sum resulted from an over-invoiced contract,

executed, commissioned and paid for about five years (5) ago by a foreign contractor. This

action was however intentional and since then the fund has been in a suspense account at a

Bank here in south Africa.

We are now ready to transfer the fund overseas and that is where you come in. It is

important to inform you that as civil servants, we are forbidden to operate a foreign

account; that is why we require your assistance. The total sum will be shared as follows:

70% for us, 25% for you and 5% for local and international expenses incidental to the

transfer.

The transfer is risk free on both sides. I am an accountant with the South Africa Minning

cooperation. If you find this proposal acceptable, we shall require the following

documents:

1. Full Name
2. Address
3. Age And Sex
4. Occupation
5. Mobile Phone Number
6. Nationality.

Alternatively we will furnish you with the text of what to type into your letter-headed

paper, along with a breakdown explaining, comprehensively what we require of you. The

business will take us thirty (30) working days to accomplish.

Please reply urgently.

Best regards

Arhu Mccarthy.

Anti-fraud resources: