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: "JAMES MULUTU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamulutu@terra.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2011 18:17:35 -0400
Subject: URGENT HELP NEEDED/REPLY IF YOU ARE READY TO HELP

Dear Friend,
Good day.
I hope you will not min me writing to you but a letter like this is the most confidential and effective way to contact you.  My name is Mr James Mulutu, son
of Mr Peter Mulutu of  Zimbabwe . This might be a surprise to you where I got your contact address; My Mother got your mailing address from Republic Of Benin
Information Exchange in Cotonou, she was looking for a reliable and trustworthy person who will help us in this transaction.
During the  war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white-owned farms to his party members
and his followers, he ordered all the white-owned farmers to surrender all their farms to his party members and his followers. My Late Father Mr. Peter
Mulutu was a very rich Zimbabwean farmer who was  murdered in his farm by the War veterans who took over his farm due to his support for the Matabeleland
Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC ). The MDC is the main opposition party in my country Zimbabwe kicking against the wicked acts of Mr. Robert Mugabe, the
incumbent  President against the White farmers. As you may be aware, President Robert Mugabe introduced new land reforms, which was particularly not
favorable for the rich white farmers and few black farmers (my Father inclusive).
After the death of my father, my mother, I and my younger sister fled to Benin Republic of Cotonou,because we were secretly informed of his plans to kill us.
Later my mother Mrs. Sarah Mulutu was diagnosed with breast cancer. We moved out from Zimbabwe with the documents of my fathers funds deposited in a Bank
Account  Abroad,the amount contained is US$30 Million (Thirty Million United states dollars).
He deposited the money in a bank as Family funds which he intend to use in abroad, for safe-keeping, banking and investment, because of economic instability
in Africa.So we decided to contact overseas Individual that will help to assist us to invest this money and also help us to move  out of Benin Republic of
Cotonou ,because we are asylum seekers here in Benin Republic which disqualifies us from operating an account or getting involved in any financial
transaction here in  Benin Republic of Cotonou . We have agreed to give you from the total sum 40% for helping us to receive this money to your country
account and also assist us out of Africa,  while 60% will be for my family to invest in your country with your assistance.
If you are interested and will be sincere in helping us, kindly furnish me with your personal phone numbers for easy communication and your other details.
You can contact me on our family Email address as stated above.
Note that this transaction is 100% risk-free and it requires mutual trust and absolute confidentiality.
Note: what mathers is the truth, honesty,trustworthy, because this is all we have in our llives now as we are surffereing here without help.
Your urgent response will be highly appreciated in this regard.
Best regards,
James Mulutu (For the family).
jamulutu@terra.com

Anti-fraud resources: