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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: "kenneth zuma" <kenneth_zm02@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:59:02 +0200
Subject: I WILL APRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE .

From:KENNETH ZUMA
Cape Town 8001
South Africa.
Tel:+27 82 947 2455


May I clave your indulgence to solicit for your co-operation in a business
opportunity .Although ,I am skeptical to discuss the business on the
internet owing to lots of unsolicited/spam mails on the net these days,but I
believe it will be successful based upon a mutual undertstanding and
interpretation between us.

Being an attorney and close family friend to Mr. Peter Weston a British
citizen and a Resident businessman in South Africa; I write humbly to
solicit for your sincere and outright willingness in the matter that I will
wish to present to you.Mr Peter Weston secured my services to draft a will
of TRUST for him in 2002 following his involvement in an almost fatal
accident that nearly cost him his life. In his will of TRUST he bequeathed
his legates to his CHILDREN, as it is his wish that I watch over this fund
until the children got to the age of 30.The children are Catherine Weston
who is 11 years old and Victoria Weston who is 14years old.Mr Weston had
personally informed me that in any event of death, his wife Jacqueline
Weston should not be allowed nor allocated full custody of the children as
she is an alcoholic. He never got to give me full reasons why this is so as
I only represent him here in South Africa regarding his legates.

In 2003,June specifically,Mr Weston had called me and informed me of his
intentions to make up with his wife as it is becoming rather difficult for
him and his children to get along without their mother. He also had plans of
having a family reunion in this regard.In July, his wife visited him here in
South Africa and they flew to Malaysia on holidays.Apparently, things did
not work out the way he had planned and they got back earlier than intended.
November 20th of 2004, he brought his two daughters to my home and asked me
to look after them as he intends to take his wife on holidays to Maldives as
they will be celebrating their wedding anniversary there.Mr Weston never
came back as he and his wife were involved in the TSUNAMI disaster that took
place on the 26th of December 2004.He was 47 years old and his wife 45.I had
tried severally to reach any next of kin but my efforts had been futile.

The said legates are his corporate business home valued at USD129, 000.00
and an equivalent of USD16m {Sixteen Million Dollars} cash in a bank account
with Standard Chartered bank of South Africa. It is therefore on this basis
that I write you to solicit for your assistance to enable me redeem the fund
using your personal details on the agreement that you retain 15%of the
principal amount. You will be a partner in the investments made with this
amount which means you will also be receiving shares from the proceeds of
the investments as will be stipulated in our memorandum of an agreement. I
have made every arrangement to make this venture hitch and risk free. Being
an executor of the will, I have in my custody every relevant document
regarding this business transaction ranging from the power of
attorney,through which I was empowered to act as his lawful attorney, The
bank account information where the money is currently deposited, copy of the
will and copy of the letter of probate obtained from the High Court here in
South Africa.
I look forward to your resolve decision to take part in this business matter
while asking you to kindly adopt and treat accordingly.
I remain,
Bar.KENNETH ZUMA (LLB, BL LLM)

_________________________________________________________________
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