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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "BRANKA MANDELA" <brank_01@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 09:39:52 +0200
Subject: TREAT THIS PROPOSAL AS TOP SECRET

FROM:Mrs.BRANKA MANDELA
JOHANESSBURG 0052
SOUTH AFRICA 
                                                         

 

ATTENTION: Sir / Madam,

I know that this message will come to you as a surprise since we don’t know each other before, but for purpose of introduction, I am Mrs.Branka Mandela, The Chief Auditor Of First National Bank Of South Africa (FNB).

There is an account opened in this bank in 1997 and since 2001 nobody has operated on this account again, after going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing. The owner of the account is Mr.ANDY T. JOHNSON, a foreigner and a miner at Kruger gold co. a geologist by profession and he died since 1999. No other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it,the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that his company does not know anything about this account and the amount involed is(USD $23,000,000,00) Twenty Three Million United States Dollars.

I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be approved to a local bank here, but can only be approved to anyforeign account because the money is in us dollars and the former owner of the account is Mr. ANDY T. JOHNSON is a foreigner too. I know that this message will come to you as a surprise as we don't know ourselves before.We will sign an agreement, but be sure that it is real and a genuine business. Please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take immediately.Send also your private telephone and fax number including the full details of the account to be used for the deposit.

I want us to meet face to face or sign a binding agreement to bind us together so that you can receive this money into a foreign account or any account of your choice where the fund will be safe. And I will fly to your country for withdrawal and sharing and other investments.

I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner, who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you later immediately, if you are capable and willing to handle such amount in strict confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefit because this opportunity may never come again in my life.

I need truthful person in this business because I don't want to make mistake I need your strong assurance and trust. With my position now in the office I can transfer this money to any foreigner's reliable account, which you can provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing.

I will destroy all documents of transaction immediately we receive this money leaving no trace to any place. You can also come to discuss with me face to face after which I will make this remittance in your presence and two of us will fly to your country at least two days ahead of the money going into the account.

I will apply for annual leave to get visa immediately I hear from you that you are ready to act and receive this fund in your account. I will use my position and influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer of this money to your account with appropriate clearance forms of the ministries and foreign exchange departments.

At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 30% of the total amount, 65% will be for me, and while 5% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during the process of transferring. I look forward to your earliest reply through my email.

Please be informed that due to my position in the bank and other security reasons, I would not like to show physical involvement in this operation. Therefore, I have to contact an attorney to help us in the area of filling application and obtaining all relevant document that needed by the bank, As an insider, I know that the fund cannot be released without the availability of some transfer papers these include.


Thanks untill i hear from you,


Best regards,
Branka Mandela {Mrs}



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