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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: "zuma thambo" <zthambo10145@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 10:44:13 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL

FROM: DR.ZUMA THAMBO,
TELL: +27761064219
E-MAIL: zthambo@yahoo.co.uk

ATTN: MANAGING DIRECTOR / C.E.O,

I know that this message will come to you as a surprise since we don’t know
each other before, but for purpose of introduction, I am DR. ZUMA THAMBO,
The chief auditor of AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA (ABSA).

There is an account opened in this bank in 1980 and since 1990 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 for nothing.

The owner of this account is MR. FREDERICK M. WONG, a foreigner, and a miner
at Kruger gold co., a geologist by profession and he died since 1990, on
board the ill-fated Egypt Air 99 that crashed killing all passenger on
board, 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 his company does not know anything about this account and the
amount involved is (USD$25 Million) Twenty five Million United States
dollars.

I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be
approved to a local bank here, but can only be approved to any foreign
account because the money is in us dollars and the former owner of the
account is Mr. Frederick M. Wong is a foreigner too.

I know that this message will come to you as a surprise as we don't know
ourselves before. We will sign an agreement, but be sure that it is real and
a genuine business. You can visit the BBC website for the avoidance of
doubt:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/world/americas/502503.stm PROPOSITION,

I am contacting you because of the need to involve a foreigner with foreign
account and foreign beneficiary. I need your full co-operation to make this
work fine because the management is ready to approve this payment to any
foreigner, who has correct information of this account, which I will give to
you later. If you are able and willing to handle such amount in strict
confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual
benefit because this opportunity will never come again in my life.

I need truthful person in this business because I don't want to make
mistake, I need your strong assurance, trust and confidence indeed. With my
position now in the office I can transfer this money to any foreigner’s
reliable account, which you can provide with assurance that this money will
be intact pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing. I will
destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this money
leaving no trace to any place.

I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately I hear from you that
you are ready to act and receive this fund in your account and as well
tender my resignation immediately after the arrival and sharing of the fund.
I will use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward
transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance forms,
from the ministries and foreign exchange departments.

At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 30% of the total
amount, 60% will be for me, and while 10% will be for expenses both parties
might have incurred during the process of transferring. The above phone
number is my direct number kindly contacts me as soon as you get this mail.

Please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take
immediately. Send also your private telephone and fax number including the
full details of the account to be used for the deposit.

I look forward to your earliest reply through my phone or e-mails.

THANKS AND REGARD

DR ZUMA THAMBO

_________________________________________________________________
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