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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: Safia Farkash <safia01185@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: safia011@live.com
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:35:18 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: massage from safia



Dear Sir/Madam,
 
Salam,

This may appear a bit surprising to you but very beneficial; as a matter of urgency, I am desperately looking for a foreign partner whom I can trust to handle some investment of fund movement. I am SAFIA FARKASH, one of the wife's of embattled Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who is presently been embattled by the unfaithful opposition leaders in my country. For this reason Colonel has given everybody money in case any thing should happen to him. He just made it know to me that, he deposited the sum of US$65.4m (Sixty five million four hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in my name at a reputable security company in a country I will disclose to you as we proceed. For I have already left Libya to one of the West African countries.
 
Consequently, our status/position of the present state of things does not permit me to open an account or run any huge financial business at the moment. That is why I want this fund’s records to be change to your full information that will enable you transferred it to any conducive account in any of the countries in the world. Your assistance will enable us invest this money in your country or any where it will be safe and productive. But before we continue in this transaction, we would have to sign an AGREEMENT for our protection and rights. Also, I wish to inform you that this transaction is NOT A CHILD'S PLAY and it is 100% REAL AND RISK FREE and been assisted by an international business law firm.
 
Hence, if you agree to assist us, we will offer you 30% of the money for your assistance and for any possible expenses incurred in the process of this transaction, while 70% will be for our family investment(s) in your country through your assistance, and as soon as you agree to assist us, and to sign the agreement with me, i shall quickly furnish you with the contact address of the Security company where the US$65.4m (Sixty five million four hundred Thousand United States Dollars was deposited by my Husband, get you the deposit certificate of claim together with a lawyer to process the change of ownership documents for you. Please I need your urgent and confidential response.
Waiting for your prompt and positive response
Thanks.

Mrs. Safia Farkash Gaddafi

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