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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: "Mr. Philip Zwane" <mr_pzw@msn.com>
Reply-To: mr_pzw@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2005 03:36:30 +0000
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET.

Dear Sir,

First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction: this is by virtue
if it’s nature as being utterly CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET. Though I know
that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and
worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.
We have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction, as we
have been reliably informed of your discreteness and ability in transactions
of this nature.

Let me start by first introducing myself properly to you. I am Mr. Philip
Zwane, an Attorney and l came to know of you in my private search for a
reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction which
involves the transfer of a huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring
maximum confidence.THE PROPOSITION:

A foreigner, Late Engineer Gerlad Welsh, an Gold Merchant/oil broker was my
client until his death in a ghastly air crash, banked with a bank in United
kingdom and had a closing balance of US$12.5M (Twelve Million, Five Hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) which the bank now unquestionably expects it
to be claimed by any available foreign next-of-kin of the Late beneficiary
or alternatively be forfeited to the government. Fervent valuable efforts
are being made by the Bank to get in touch with any of the Welsh family or
relatives but proved unsuccessful.

It is because of the inability to locate any of Late Gerlad Welsh's
next-of-kin (he died with his wife and only daughter) that the management
under the influence of our chairman and member of the board of directors are
preparing for the fund to be declared "UNCLAIMABLE" and subsequently be to
government. In order to avert this negative development, I now seek your
permission to have you stand as a next-of-kin to Late Gerald Welsh so that
the funds US$12.5M would be released and paid into your bank account as the
beneficiary next-of-kin. All documents and proves to enable you get this
fund will be carefully worked out and more so we are assuring you of a 100%
risk free involvement.

You shall be compensated with 30% of the money forstanding in as the
beneficiary of the funds and 70% to me the originator of the transaction. If
this proposal is OK by you and you do not wish to take undue advantage of
the trust, we hope to bestow on you and your company, then kindly get to me
immediately. I will like you to furnish me with your most confidential
telephone, fax number for further information on the release and subsequent
transfer of the funds in your favour. Please send your reply preferably by
fax +44 7092869075

Thank you in advance for your anticipated
Co-operation.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Philip Zwane


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