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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: "peter botha" <p_botha15@yahoo.co.in> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 14:10:46 +0100
Subject: mail for you

Mr. PETER BOTHA

I am Mr. PETER BOTHA, Cape town, Branch. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On June 6, 2004, am foreign mining consultant/contractor with the South Africa Mining Corporation. Due to the company been foreign company ,i need some one a foreignire to help me TRANSFER THE FUNS OUT OF SOUTHAFRICA.
The company intends tO pay my refund . And due to company policy and book keeping, this refund payment which am is expecting, can only be made out in this one whole amount, because the company policy only allows a refund payment in one PAYMENT, so am going to instruct for the payment to be drawn to you. So the payment will get to you on a BANK WIRE TRANSFER.
Please forward your full name and address and your telephone number to us for payment to be sent to you.The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 80% for me and 20% for you.Wait your reply P_BOTHA14@YAHOO.CO.IN
Thanks,

PETER



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