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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: "Mrs.Susan Shabangu" <shabangus276@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: shabangus111@excite.com
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 23:05:09 +0000
Subject: KINDNESS NEEDED.

FROM: MRS. SUSAN SHABANGU.
REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

After due deliberation with my children, I decided to contact you for
your assistance in standing as beneficiary to the sum of US$30.5M (Thirty
Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) First, let me
start by introducing myself as MRS SUSAN SHABANGU, a mother of three
children and the Deputy Minister of Safety and Security of the Republic of
South Africa since 29 April 1996, to date under the auspices of the
President of South Africa MR THABO MBEKI. Visit this website:
http://www.info.gov.za/gol/gcis_profile.jsp?id=1066
THE PROPOSAL
After the swearing in ceremony making me the Deputy Minister of Safety
and Security, my husband Mr Ndelebe Shabangu died while he was on an
official trip to Trinidad and Tobago in 2002. After his death, I discovered
that he had some funds in a dollar account which amounted tothe sum of
US$30.5M with a South African bank which had her offshore Housein
NIGERIA-CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. This fund emanated as a result of an
over-invoiced contract which he executed with the Government of South
Africa. Though I assisted him in getting this contract but I never knew that
it was over-invoiced by him. I am afraid that the government of South Africa
might start to investigate on contracts awarded from 1998 to date. If they
discover this money in his bank account, they will confiscate it and seize
his assets here in South Africa and this will definitely affect my political
career in government. I want your assistance in transferring this funds from
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA through my Attorney so that this fund could be wired
into your account directly without any hitch. As soon as the fund gets to
your account, you are expected to move it immediately into another personal
bank account in your country. I will see to it that the account is not
traced from South Africa. As soon as you have confirmed the fund into your
account, I will send my eldest son with my Attorney to come to your country
to discuss on business investments. For your assistance, I am offering you
20% of the principal sum which amounts to US$6,100.000.00 (Six million One
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) However, you have to assure me
and also be ready to go into agreement with me that you will no telope with
my fund. If you agree to my terms, kindly as a matter of urgency send me an
email. Due to my sensitive position in the South African Government, I would
not WANT you to call me on phone or send a fax to me. All correspondence
must be by email to my private email address, If you want to speak with my
Attorney, that is fine and okay by me. His chambers will be representing my
interest at CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. All correspondence must be made either
to my Attorney (Barrister Abudu Daladi, of Abda's lodge chambers, Tel:
234-803-581-4937, or send me an email. I will also like you to give me your
contact address of telephone, fax and email to enable my Attorney call or
reach you from time to time. Please I do not need to remind you of the need
for absolute Confidentiality if this transaction must succeed. YOU MUST NOT
CALL ME! If you do not feel comfortable with this transaction, do not
hesitate to discontinue. Thanks for your anticipated co-operation and my
regards to your family.
Yours faithfully,
MRS. SUSAN SHABANGU
Deputy Minister of Safety and Security
South Africa.


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