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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: jeffersonforbes@yahoo.ca
Date: Thu, 05 May 2005 15:45:09 +0200
Subject: PLEASE CALL MR JEFFERSON FORBES

ROM: The Desk Of Mr. Jefferson Forbes
1254 Lious Botha Avenue
Johannesburg, South Africa
TEL: 27-83-4326680
Email: jeffersoffice@workmail.co.za

Dear Sir/Madam,

In order to transfer out (US$15 Million) Fifteen Million United States Dollars from First National Bank (FNB). I have picked up the trust and courage to write you this letter with divine confidence that you are a reliable and honest Person who will be capable for this important business transaction believing also that you will never let me down either now or in the future.
My name is Mr. Jefferson Forbes a senior Auditing Officer with the FNB in South Africa There is an account opened in this bank in 1997 and since 1999 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited to the government.
The owner of this account died since 1999. No other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that this company does not know anything about this account and the amount involved is (US$15 million) Fifteen million United States Dollars.
I want to transfer this sum of Fifteen million United States Dollars into a safe foreign account abroad. I am contacting you based on the fact that you are a foreigner because this money can only be approved for payment to a foreigner, more so it can not be approved by any local bank here, as this money is in US Dollars hence the former owner of this account is a foreigner too. I know that this proposal will come to you as a surprise as we don't know ourselves before. However I got your contact from a trade consultant here in South Africa though I did not disclose the purpose of my seeking for a foreign business partner to him.
I have involved a very senior official in the Operational department and we have agreed that after the transfer of the money into your account, you shall be entitled to 20% of the total sum. We the officials will take 70% while 10% is for expenses. All necessary precautions have been taken to ensure 100% risk free situation on the side of both parties.
Please note that this deal can only take place on the following conditions: -
1. You will provide the bank account and other relevant Particulars/information for easy and onward Remittance of this money.
2. Absolute confidentiality and sincerity will be required and guaranteed, considering our (me and my partners) positions in the bank.
All things being equal, this transaction will be within 10 working days as soon as we hear from you. Please treat this matter with utmost confidentiality.
Contact me as quickly as possible through my mobile No: +27 83 4326680 or you can reply me via my work email at jeffersoffice@workmail.co.za

Regards,

Mr. Jefferson Forbes

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