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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: "lukas goma" <lukasgoma12@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 12:17:56 +0000
Subject: mutual Interest

DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.

E-MAIL:lucas02@jmail.co.za


Sir,



My name is Lucas Goma an executive member of the South
African tender’s board committee of the Department Minerals
and Energy. Upon recommendation, I wish to request your
participation in a business transaction requiring strict
confidentiality.

The intention of this letter is to ask for your
co-operation in redeeming a payment, which has been afloat
in a suspense account of the Department. The source of this
money now valued at US$15 million was an investment
interest, purchased originally by one Mr. Tom. A
Squillante in 1973 and leased to the South African
Department of Minerals and Energy. Since the maturity of
the investment in September 2000, several attempts have
been made to contact the Beneficiary or his next of kin or
any of his closed relatives [in whose favor the cash valued
of the investment can be paid] without any success. Recent
report by the government finally revealed that Mr. Tom A
Squillante is deceased.

Furthermore, my colleagues and I are in charge of monies
owed to overseas beneficiaries by the ministry and we have
initiated a process to file a claim for the matured cash
valued US$15 million of the investment by the late Mr. Tom,
in hopes of transferring the money oversea into your trust
for us. If we can come to an ‘agreement’, my partners can
successfully initiate a claim for the US$15 million
claiming that you are a relative of the deceased and that
you are appointed heir beneficiary of his investments. If
the claim is approved, you will be paid the total sum of
the cash investment.

However, be rest assured that there is absolutely nothing
to worry about with respect to this claim, it is perfectly
safe with no risk involved. It is secured from further
inquires, as the tenders board committee is given the
powers by the laws of the Republic of South Africa to
investigate and verify claims for the payment to overseas
beneficiaries. Upon our recommendation, your claim will be
approved for onward payment to you. You will not be
required to travel to South Africa to process the claim
yourself; my colleagues will handle all relevant issues on
your behalf.

The money will be paid into an over sea’s bank account that
you will nominate. Consequently, for assisting us, at the
end of the transaction your share will be 25% of the total
sum. 70% will be our share and it will be under your trust
pending viable investment opportunities available to us. I
will meet you in your country to ensure that our 70% is
secured. The remainder 5% will be kept aside to settle
every expenses incident to this transaction. I strongly
assure you that we are in the position to make this payment
possible pending we have your full co-operation and
guarantee that our money will be safe in your possession.

As public servant in our country, we cannot transfer monies
oversea in our names or company names and we are not
allowed to operate foreign accounts. Therefore, please
treat the business in strict confidentiality. I do hope
that my proposal is acceptable to you. I am using this
opportunity to write you because I am currently in Europe
on government sponsored trade mission but will be going
back to South Africa shortly. Please you can reach me at
the above email address. I urgently anticipate your quick
reply. After hearing from you, I shall bring you to a
better understanding of this great opportunity and inform
you about the information needed from you, to file the
claim and conclude the payment transfer to you.

Please this letter is for your eyes only and I plead for
your complete confidentiality and secrecy about this
transaction for we are highly placed officers in my
country.

Best regards
Lucas Goma


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