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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: "Mr Mark Grenn" <m_green@rediffmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:13:29 +0400
Subject: Mr Mark Grenn



From:Mr.mark green
Dear Sir/Madam,
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT!
The South Africa economy has witnessed a steady growth since the end of Apartheid. Within the Ministry of Energy & Mineral
Resources where I worked as director of Project Implementation, Mining and Quarrying
alone contributes 12.3% GDP (R25.9Billion), Gold made up R19.9Billion of the yearly export while Base metals and other mineral
products contribute R6.7Billion and R5.0Billion respectively. This figures excludes Diamond,
which is quoted separately.
The Government have continuously strived to improve and maintain good relationship with foreign governments and
Non-Governmental financial agencies by ensuring payments for all debts owed to foreign contractors.
As a matter of fact, the Government have sponsored several trade delegation overseas to improve and attract foreign investments to
South Africa.
I write to solicit your partnership in a matter I believe will be of mutual benefit to us. This would require your trust
and capability to work with me with your genuine cooperation according to instructions. I and two other
colleagues involved in this transaction are still in active government service with the Ministry of Mines & Mineral Resources
and we are in dire need of a foreign partner to assist us in the receipt and investment of
US$28,500,000.00 (Twenty-Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
The key issue is the transfer of the said sum to an account that will be provided by you for this purpose for safekeeping and
subsequent investment in a profitable venture. We are ready to go into an agreement with you
regarding your percentage in this transaction.It does not matter whether or not you own a company,
we shall guide you on what to do. The basis will be that a major company won a contract and
subcontracted it to you. More often, big trading companies and firms of unrelated fields win contracts and subcontract to more
specialized firms for execution.
We shall follow strictly all the legal procedures entailed in our laws and international laws in transferring the funds to you.
The source of the fund is legitimate and authoritative; our caucus extends from my Ministry
(Energy & Mineral Resources) to the Ministry of Finance.It is pertinent to know that under the South African
Government Service Code of Conduct, Civil servants are not allowed to operate or own a bank
account overseas, hence your importance as a foreign partner.
I have reposed my confidence in you and hope you will not disappoint me.Should you be willing to assist positively with a
common goal, endeavour to contact me immediately through my confidential email address above.
I await in anticipation your fullest co-operation
Best regards,
mark green








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