joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
 Free trial for 30 days
   jwSpamSpy
Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: mrcy_malume@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 10:36:13 +0200
Subject: Help Assistance needed.

FROM: MRS MERCY MALUME
PHONE: +27 82-342-0297
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
ALTERNATIVE EMAIL ADDRESS:EMAIL:
[mrcy_malume@yahoo.com]

CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Dear.

MY NAME IS MRS. MERCY MALUME, THE FORMER WIFE OF THE
DEFENCE MINISTER GABRIEL MALUME OF THE REPUBLIC OF GABON IN
CENTRAL AFRICA.I AND MY ONLY SON (AUSTIN ARE PRESENTLY
RESIDING IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA WHERE WE ARE SEEKING
FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM FOLLOWING THE LATEST DISSOLUTION OF
OUR 25 YEAR-OLD MARRIAGE.

BEFORE THE DESOLUTION OF MY MARRIAGE WITH MY HUSBAND
GABRIEL MALUME, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT SOME REASONABLE SUM
OF MONEY IN US$ CURRENCIES OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA IN
LIBRAVILLE, WHICH I INTEND TO INVEST FOR MYSELF AND MY ONLY
SON.THIS FUND AMOUNTS TO A TOTAL OF US$18MILLION (EIGHTTEEN
MILLION DOLLARS) AND THIS WAS SAFELY KEPT IN THE SECURITY
VAULT OF A PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN JOHANNESBURG
PENDING WHEN I WILL FIND A TRUSTED FOREIGN BUSINESS
PARTNER.

I AM INTERESTED IN ANY BUSINESS YOU THINK CAN BE VIABLE IN
YOUR COUNTRY AS LONG AS THE BUSINESS WILL NOT FAIL ME
BECAUSE THE FUTURE OF ME AND MY SON DEPENDS ON THIS MONEY
AS WE MAY NEVER IN THIS LIFE GO BACK TO HIS FATHER WHO
OUTRIGHTLY ABANDONED US.IN YOUR REPLY PLEASE INDICATE A FEW
BUSINESSES YOU THINK WILL BE OF BENEFIT TO BOTH OF US.

WE WILL BE GLAD TO PART A REASONABLE PERCENTAGE OF THE
TOTAL FUND TO YOU FOR ALL YOUR ASSISTANCE TOWARDS MOVING
THIS MONEY OUT OF JOHANNESBURG TO YOUR COUNTRY AND HELPING
IN TERMS OF REASONABLE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL
BE OF MUTUAL BENEFIT TO MY FAMILY AND YOUR HUMBLE SELF.

PLEASE INDICATE YOUR CAPABILITY TO ASSIST US IN THIS
TRANSACTION AND INCLUDE YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR
EASIER COMMUNICATION OF THIS TRANSACTION.PLEASE MAINTAIN
ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THIS PREVILLAGED PIECE OF
INFORMATION FOR THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION.

FOR ALL YOUR EFFORT REGARDING THIS TRANSFER, I AM WILLING
TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL FUND AND 5% WILL BE FOR ANY
EXPENSES THAT MIGHT OCCURE DURING THE TRANSFERR WHILE THE
REMAINING 80% WILL BE FOR MY FAMILY INVESTMENT IN YOUR
COUNTRY.

THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD UNDERSTANDING AND FOR THE GREAT FUTURE
THAT I FORESEE FOR BOTH OF US.

YOURS TRULY,
MRS MERCY MALUME

--

Anti-fraud resources: