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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: hectorzuma@zwallet.com
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2005 11:49:31 +0200
Subject: An Offer of Increased business Expansion,thank you.

Compliments of the day,
I am Mr.Hector Zuma, a consulting auditor,FIRST NATIONAL BANK, Johannesburg-
South Africa.During the course of my auditing work with my client bank late
last year, I discovered an account worth 15,400,000.00 opened in the bank
in 1998 by a Foreigner, a German, Late Mr.Andreas Schranner,who died in a
plane crash. ([<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm>).It
is because of the perceived possibility of not being able to locate any of
Late Mr. Andreas Schranner next of kin known to the bank, according to the
immigration data available to the bank,that i contacted you to stand in as
the next of kin.
All validating and authenticating documents to enable you get this fund will
be carefully worked out by a close confident attorney that i have contacted.
We have secured from the probate registry, an order of Mandamus to locate
any of the deceased beneficiaries and that makes this transaction 100% risk
free,genue and legal.The sharing ratio after completion of transfer will
be thus: 60% for me, 35% for you and 5% for expenses.Kindly indicate your
interest to enable us, with your assistance,move the fund to the banks offshore
clearing houses in Europe or Asia.All further correspondence should be through
my alternative email:hectorzuma@zwallet.com
Accept my warm regards as I await your response.
Sincerely,
Mr.Hector Zuma.
FNB,JOHANNESBURG..
South Africa.
hectorzuma@zwallet.com

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