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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: "Themba Mahgaso" <themahga3@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2005 08:36:05 +0200
Subject: RE: INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP.

FROM THE DESK OF ENGR. THEMBA PULANE MAHGASO DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND
ENERGY

OFFICIAL MEMO

DIRECT TEL NO.: + 27 83 688 7558
DIRECT FAX NO.: + 27 11 720 0101

Dear Sir,

With great pleasure I am writing this proposal on behalf of my partners. I
have the mandate of my senior colleagues Engr.Edison Moyo, to solicit the
assistance of foreign business partners in this matter, Hence I have decided
to seek your cooperation and assistance in this business of mutual benefit
by sending this letter to you.

There is a program currently on, in the department were I work as projects
director. Inviting holders with proof of government indebtedness that stands
at an envisaged accruing interest of $645.2 million on projects and
supplies, to submit same to enable their claims go through payment process.
Some of these debts have been redeemed in their principal component leaving
behind accrued interest portion unpaid.

Within the DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY were I work, we have been able
to record an accrued interest bills of Eighteen million Seven Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars ($18,700,000.00) on supplies which we have in
principle, an approval to remit overseas. This we can do by appropriate
forms of documentation with application for claim to reflect the approval
and payment.

Our constraint is to be able to source a trustworthy individual, to whom we
can remit this fund and act as trustee, since our period of disengagement
from the civil service is near.

We are presently affected by the South African civil service code of
conduct, which prohibits civil servants from operating foreign accounts.
Moreover, I have the authority of my partners to propose that should you be
willing to assist us in this transaction, you will be highly compensated on
percentage bases.

This transaction should be handled with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.
Furthermore, your area of specialization is not a hindrance to the
successful execution of this transaction.

Kindly contact me on + 27 83 688 7558 and this Fax NO.: + 27 11 720 0101, to
indicate your willingness as a partner.

Yours faithfully,

ENGR. THEMBA PULANE MAHGASO.

_________________________________________________________________
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