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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: "patrick magai" <patrick_magai2005@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 23:17:28 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

Dear Friend,

My name is Colins Magai, the son of Dr. Gadiga Magai of Zimbabwe. It might be a surprise to you where I got your contact address; I got your contact during a desperate search here in Ghana, Don’t be worried because I am contacting you in good faith.

During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our country, he ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and their followers. My father was one of the best farmers in the country and knowing supporters invaded my father's farm and burnt down everything, killed him and confiscated all his investments.

When My Father was alive he made a deposit of $16.3m USD{SIXTEEN MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLAS}on my name with a private security company in Accra Ghana west Africa for safe keeping, according to my father he did not disclose the real content of the consignment box to the security company as money, he deposited it as family valuables for security purpose.

After the death of my father, my mother and I with my younger sister decided to move out of Zimbabwe to Accra Ghana for the safety of our lives. Because of our present status (Political Refugees), my mother and I are seriously looking forward to having an overseas partner trustworthy and reliable, whom will act as our late Father's oversea partner to help us and retrieve the onsignment{Money}out from the security company and transfer it to his/her destination account and help us to invest the fund, as we have no idea of any business investment.

I will like to bring to your notice that all the documents covering this fund are with us which will be forwarded to you when it's needed. If my proposition is considered, for helping us to retrieve and transfer this money to your country, we will offer you 20% of the total fund, and 5% of the total will be set aside to cover any expenses incurred during this transaction. 75% will be for my family to invest in your country under your supervision.

For detailed information, you can contact me I would appreciate confidentiality and honesty in our correspondence. Your immediate response will be highly welcomed.please get back to me through this e mail to proceed,

Regards,
Colins Magai.


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