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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: fisoedwardmasele@yahoo.ca
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 15:27:43 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL

Sir,

Sub: REQUEST TO TRANSFER US$28M FOR INVESTMENT

My name is Mr. Fiso Edward Masele- the eldest son of the late Mr. Mpoyo Masele of Zimbabwe. Firstly, you definitely would be surprised how I came about your contact; I got your contact from the South African Information Exchange here in Johannesburg, South Africa.
During the current war against farmers in Zimbabwe by the President- Mr. Robert Mugabe, to reclaim all the white-owned farmlands for his party members and loyalists (he ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farmlands over to his party members and loyalists). My father was one of the renowned farmers in our country and because he did not support this idea, supporters invaded my fathers farmland, destroyed everything and in the process killed my father.
After the death of my father, my mother, my sister and I decided to move out from Zimbabwe because our lives were in danger with the money my father kept in his hidden safe in my mothers house. The amount contained in the safe is US$28,000,000.00 (Twenty Eight Million US Dollars) and we decided to move to the Republic of South Africa where we deposited the money in a Security Company as valuables.
We decided to contact you as a reliable investor that will assist us in moving this money out of South Africa. We are asylum seekers here in South Africa which disqualifies US from operating an account or getting involved in any financial transaction. We decided also to give you from the total sum, 25% for assisting us move this money out from South Africa, while 75% will be for me and my family for investment purposes.
Contact me immediately via my telephone no. +27.73.286.3707, thank you for your attention!
Note that my family attorney has secured anti-terrorist/money-laundry certificate to avoid confiscation of the fund. This business transaction is 100% risk free and requires mutual trust and absolute confidentiality. Your urgent response will be highly appreciated in this regard.

Yours truly,

Fiso Edward Masele

(For The Family)

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