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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Rex Shabalala" <rexshabalala2006@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: rexshabalala2006@swissmail.net
Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 04:08:50 +0000
Subject: from rex

Good Day,

I am making this contact with you based on my committee's request for
an individual/company who is interested in assisting us with a funds
transfer.

In the Department of Minerals & Energy where I work as a Director of
projects, my Colleagues and I have in our possession overdue payment
bills totaling (19.7m USD) which we want to remit overseas; we would like
you
to receive this funds on our behalf because the South Africa Civil Service
Code of Conduct banned us to operate offshore accounts hence your
importance.

This funds (19.7m USD) is the balance of the contract value executed in
my department by a foreign firm, which we the officials over-invoiced and
want to transfer to any foreign bank account you will provide by filling in
application via the justice department for the transfer of rights and
privileges of the former contractor to be assigned over to you.

The actual contract cost have been paid to the original project
executors,leaving the balance in the tune of the said amount which we
have in principle obtained approval to disburse.

Your share of the funds will be 15% for your effort if we are able to
reach working terms, 75% for us and 10% for tax/expenses. I am available on
my email.Please, send your telephone and fax numbers for more details upon
your acceptance.

I await your reply.

Regards,

Engr. Rex Shabalala.
Committee co-ordinator


Anti-fraud resources: