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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: FRANK ZAMAYE <drfrankzamaye@walla.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 14:29:59 +0200
Subject: URGENT ASSITANCE NEEDED

DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY
PRETORIA,
SOUTH AFRICA.

Kindly reply: drfrankzamaye@netscape.net

Dear Friend,
It is my great pleasure to write you this letter on
behalf of my colleagues.I have decided to seek a
confidential co-operation with you in the execution
of a deal hereunder for the benefit of all parties and
hope you will keep it confidential because of the
nature of the business.

Within the Department of Minerals and Energy where I
work as an Assistant Director of audit,with the
co-operation of two other top officials,we have in our
possession an overdue contractor payment in US
Dollars funds.The said funds represent certain
percentage of the
contract value executed on behalf of my Department by
a foreign contracting firm,(Pearls Ltd) which we the
officials over-invoiced to the amount of US$15,200,000
(Fifteen Million Two Hundred Thousand US
Dollars).Since the present elected Government is
determined to pay foreign contractors all debts
owed,so as to maintain good relations with foreign
governments and non-governmental agencies,we included
our bills for approvals with the Department of
Finance and the Reserve Bank of South Africa (RBSA).We
are 100% sure of funds approvals to anyone or
company we (The Audit Committee) recommend as part
of the sub-contractors who did jobs for the
Department.

We are seeking your assistance to front as the
sub-contractor of the unclaimed funds,since we are
not allowed to operate foreign accounts.Details and
change of beneficiary information upon application
for claim to reflect payment and approvals will be
secured on behalf of you/your Company.

My colleagues and I are prepared to give you US$2.5m
while we take US$7.4m and the balance of US$5.3m for
taxes and miscellaneous expenses incurred.

This business is completely safe and secure,provided
you treat it with utmost confidentiality.It does not
matter whether you/your Company does contract
projects,as a transfer of rights will be secured in
favour of you/your Company through the Federal High
Court of South Africa before we can proceed.

I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you
will not disappoint us.Kindly notify me immediately
via my alternative email (drfrankzamaye@netscape.net) for
further details upon your acceptance of this proposal.

Yours Faithfully,
Frank Zamaye(DR)




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