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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: "mike taffa" <miketaffa1010@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 09:34:59 +0000
Subject: PRIVATIZATION/PARTERNSHIP

FROM Mr MIKE TAFFA

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA.

TELE.+27 72 98 455 89


ATTENTION :Sir/Madam,


I know you will be surprise to read from me, but please consider this letter
as request from a family in dire need for your assistance. Firstly I must
introduce myself. I am Mr MIKE TAFFA from ZIMBABWE, I am the first and only
son of MR. MANDELA TAFFA. I am presently residing in South Africa.

I got your contact from the South African Information Exchang (S.A.I.E.) in
Johannesburg and On behalf of my mother who is a widow MRS. ELIZABETH
TAFFA,I decided to solicit for your assistance to transfer the sum of
US$25.5M (Twenty five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
in your personal or company’s account.

Before my fathers death he was among the few black Zimbabwean rich farmers
and he was poisoned by the agent of the ruling government of president
Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabwe
opposition party controlled by the white minority.


Before his death he had taken me to Johannesburg to deposit this money to a
Security and Finance Company. This money was deposited in a box as gemstone
to avoid much demurrage from the Security Company.

This money was earmarked for purchase of new machinery and chemicals for the
farms and to establish new farms in Lesotho and Swaziland.
In his will he specially drew my attention to this sum of US$25.5M (Twenty
five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) that he deposited
in a safe box in a private Security and Finance Company here in
Johannesburg, South Africa.

IN FACT MY FATHER SAID IN HIS WILL AND QUOTE: "My beloved son, I wish to
draw your attention to this money which I deposited in your name in a box
with a Security and Finance Company in Johannesburg, South Africa. In case
of my absence on earth caused by death. You should solicit for a reliable
foreign partner to assist you to transfer this money out of South Africa for
investment purpose."

From the above, you will understand that the live and future of my family
depends on this money as much. I will be grateful if you can assist us. We
are now living in South Africa as Asylum seekers and financial laws of South
Africa does not allow Asylum seekers certain right to such huge amount of
money.

In view of this, I cannot invest this money in South Africa,hence I am
asking you to assist me to transfer this money out of South Africa for
investment purpose. For your efforts, I am prepared to offer you 20% of the
total fund. While 5% will be set aside for local and international expenses
and 75% will be kept by my family and me.
Finally modalities on how the transfer will be done and conveyed to you once
we establish trust and confidence between ourselves.

Looking forward to your reply and please treat as very urgent.
Thanks,

Best regards


(Mr MIKE TAFFA FOR THE FAMILY)


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