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: "raphealjoel" <joel_raphea@handbag.com>
Reply-To: rapheal@katamail.com
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2005 08:18:02 -0700
Subject: Re: Invitation to a Rewarding Partnership

Mr.Rapheal Joel
Pretoria 0001,
Republic of South Africa,
6 July, 2005.
Attn:
Re: Invitation to a Rewarding Partnership
Subject: Remittance of $15,600,000.00 American Dollars into your account.

It is my great pleasure to write you about this high rewarding business transaction.
I got your contact from network online and I hope that you will be capable
and reliable to handle this confidential mutually beneficial business and
that all confidential information will be handled with the same strict professionalism
that you expect from me.
I am a top official in the Presidency. With the cooperation of two other
officials, we have in our possession an over due payment in US funds.These
funds represent certain percentage of a contract value executed by a foreign
company, which was deliberately over invoiced to the tune of Fifteen Million,
Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$15,600,000.00).
The actual contract amount haven been paid to the contractor, it is the excess
balance of US$15.6M that we now intend to transfer immediately to your designated
company or personal account.
The South African government strongly believe that foreign direct investments
are the engines to sustainable economic development, to that extent,government
have continued to encourage foreign investments by promptly paying all debts
owed foreign contractors. These have provided
foreign investors new or expanded investment in South Africa with rich rewards
and wealth of
opportunities- the rewards certainly exceed the risk by unimaginable high
margins. With the cooperation of some top officials at the Department of
Finance and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), we will include the excess
balance bill for approval and immediate transfer to your account without
any hitch.
We are therefore seeking your MORAL and FINANCIAL cooperation to be the beneficiary
of the excess amount because the law forbids serving government officials
from owning or operating foreign accounts. I have the authority of my colleagues
to propose 25% compensation to you, 75%
compensation to us.
You must assure us of total confidentiality. The transaction is 100% RISK-FREE
AND LEGAL and we strongly insist on a 100% utmost
confidentiality as we are still in active government services. I have reposed
my confidence in you trusting that you will not betray us.
It is on this premise that we look forward to your positive response and
be rest assured of 100% Legal and mutually beneficial rewarding business
relationship,Thanking you in anticipation of your positive respond.
Yours truly,
Mr.Rapheal Joel



___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/



Anti-fraud resources: