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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: james botha <bothajames8@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2015 09:55:06 +0200
Subject: VERY TRANSACTION PLZ REVERT ASAP

From: Dr. Botha James

Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Foreign Affairs Ministry building

Cape Town South Africa.



Dear Sir/Madam.

I write to introduce this urgent/important business opportunity to you
Irrespective of the fact that we have not seen or known each other
before believing that it will be of immense benefit to both of us.Your
contact information came to me from your country's trade journal
during my search for a reliable and God fearing person that can assist
me and I quite believe on my own that you can be of great help in this
regard even if I am not acquainted to you before. Let me formally
introduce myself. I am Dr. Botha James, Director Gen. Department
Foreign Affairs Ministry, my office monitors and controls the affairs
of all banks and financial institutions in South Africa concerned with
foreign contract payments. I am the final signatory to any transfer or
remittance of huge funds moving within banks both on the local and
international levels in line to foreign contracts settlement.

I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to
some nominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either
as ghost accounts, unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc. I
write to present you to the federal government that you are among the
people expecting the funds to be transferred into their account, on
this note; I wish to have a deal with you as regards to the unpaid
certified contract funds. I have every files before me and the data's
will be to change to your name to enable you receive the fund into
your nominated bank account as the beneficiary of the fund's amount
$50. Million United States Dollars.

As it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to
the Federal Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed
deposits, I have the opportunity to write you based on the
instructions I received 2 days ago from the Committee on Contract
Payments /Foreign Debts to submit the List of payment reports
/expenditures and audited reports of revenues. Among several others, I
have decided to remit this sum following my idea that we have a
deal/agreement and I am going to do this

Legally.

MY CONDITIONS.
1. You will give me 50% of the contract funds as soon as you confirm
it in your designated bank account. And you will take 50% of the total
sum for your assistance.

2. This deal must be kept secret forever, and all correspondence will
be strictly by email /telephone, for security purposes.

3. You will help me to invest the fund in your country.

If you AGREE with my conditions, l advise you on what to do
immediately and the transfer will commence without delay as I will
proceed to fix your name on the Payment schedule instantly to meet the
three days mandate.

Waiting for your reply soon.
Yours Sincerely
Dr. Botha James

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