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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Tony Tutu" <tonytutu001@hotmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: tonytutu003@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:13:56 +0200
Subject: From The Desk of: Dr. Tony Tutu

From The Desk of: Dr. Tony Tutu

DIRECTOR, AUDIT AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
DIRECTOR TEL: 27732790263
DIRECTOR FAX: 27115076448

Dear,

It gives me a great pleasure to send you this business/ partnership proposal. I am writing to seek your partnership in a business of mutual benefit. Within the South Africa Department of Transport where I work as the director of audit and implementation, we (my colleagues and I) have in our possession unclaimed payment bills totaling $18,500,000.00USD. This represent the balance of the total contract over invoiced value executed on behalf of my ministry by a contractor firm who has left South Africa since the completion of their contract work.

We want to transfer abroad with the assistance and co-operation of a foreign company or individual who will receive the said funds on our behalf in a reliable foreign company or non-company’s account with as little or zero balance in the account to receive such funds.We have in principles an approval to remit these funds to a foreign bank account. The successful remittance of these funds can be achieved by filing application for transfer of rights and privileges of the said funds and other necessary documents.

I have the authority of my colleagues involved to propose that your consent of this transaction will be kept confidential and your assistance highly compensated by a portion of the $18.5m United States Dollars. We are willing to set aside a portion for taxation purpose if required. Note also all legal documents will be properly secured and documented. Besides your assistance is needed as the South African Civil Service Code prohibit us from operating foreign accounts while still in service.

I can assure you that partners and I are in a position to make this payment claim fruitful, provided you can give us the assurance and guarantee that our share will be secured. Visualize this business opportunity as an indirect financial resource, also your area of specialization is not a hindrance in the successful execution of this transaction. More details will be made available to you once you accept this partnership proposal. If interested, please contact me immediately either by phone or by fax using the above confidential numbers, as we are still active in government service as such must be treated strictly confidential.

Tank you.

Yours faithfully.

Tony Tutu.


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