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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: "alex cliff" <alexcliff_fnb@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 12:05:52 +0000
Subject: COMFIDENTIALS BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

FROM ALEX CLIFF
DEPT OF MINERAL AND ENERGY
PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA

Attn : Sir/ Maddam,

It is my great pleasure to write you this letter on behalf of my colleagues.
Your information was given to me by a member of the South African Export
Promotion Council (SAEPC) who was with the Government delegation on a trip
to your country for a bilateral conference talk to encourage foreign
investors.I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the
execution of the deal here under for the benefit of all parties and hope you
will keep it confidential because of the nature of this business.

Within the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director of
Audit and Project Implementation and with the co-operation of two other top
officials, we have in our possession an overdue payment in US$ funds.

The said funds represent certain percentage of the total contract value
executed on behalf of my Department by a foreign contracting firm, which we
the officials over-invoiced to the amount of US$26.500,000.00 (Tenty Six
Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars).Though the actual contract cost
has been paid to the original contractor,leaving the excess balance
unclaimed.

Since the present elected Government is determined to pay foreign
contractors all debts owed, so as to maintain good relationship with foreign
governments and non-government agencies, we included our bills for approvals
with the Department of Finance and the South Africa Reserve Bank (SARB).

We are seeking your assistance to front as beneficiary of the unclaimed
funds, since we are not allowed to operate foreign accounts. Details and
change of beneficiary information upon application for claim to
reflectpayment and approvals will be secured on behalf of you/your Company.

I have the authority of my partners involved to propose that should you be
willing to assist us in this transaction your share as compensation will be
30% while my colleagues and I receive 70%.

The business is completely safe and secure, provided you treat it with
utmost confidentiality. It does not matter whether you/your Company does
contract projects, as a transfer of powers will be secured in favour of
you/your Company. Also, your area of specialization is not a hindrance to
the successful execution of this transaction. I have reposed my confidence
in you and hope that you will not disappoint us.

Kindly notify me by e-mail me on my email address: for further details upon
your acceptance of this proposal.Thanks for your co-operation.

Regards

ALEX CLIFF

TEL:+27 83 553 67 93


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