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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: charlessteven7@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 08:44:29 +0200
Subject: URGENT PLEA FOR HELP.

DR CHARLES STEVEN
JOHANNESBURG HOSPITAL
SOUTH - AFRICA

URGENT PLEA FOR HELP.
ATTN

GREETENGS,

Forgive me if this letter comes to you as a surprise because we do not know
each other in person I got your address from a friend of mine working at the
south African chamber of commerce who assured me that you are a person of
respectable character I am DR CHARLES STEVEN, a general practitioner
attached at the Johannesburg general hospital, South Africa I have very
important information I wish to share with you, On the 24th of January
2005,we admitted a patient with terminal stage of brain cancer It was found
on examination that the cancer has metastasized extensively and that the
woman had no chances of survival thus our medical team informed the patient
that her death would be a matter of weeks I was assigned to manage this
patient and I was able to have her history and eventually developed
friendship with her.

It was then that I learnt from the woman that she was married to MOBUTO SESE
SEKO, the former president of ZAIRE, now Democratic Republic of Congo who
was the richest man in Africa before he died Her name is MRS AGNES SESE
SEKO, the fourth wife of the late president of ZAIRE, Since the death of her
husband, she came to South Africa with her only son where they were granted
political asylum by the government of South Africa few days before MRS SESE
SEKO died, she informed me of the money her late husband deposited for her
in a private security company here in South Africa he begged me to collect
this money and transfer it to a trust account overseas for her only son who
is only 10 years now she told me how she has no living relation capable of
taking care of her only son and how she would not want her son to live in
Africa she therefore begged me to do everything within my powers to send her
son to an overseas country where he will live a safe life and have a quality
education as well as where his Muslim faith will be preserved.

She told me that the amount of money involved is US$ 6,200,000.00 ( SIX
MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) the money is currently
deposited as diplomatic consignment with ( SECURITY & FINANCE COMPANY) here
in Johannesburg, South Africa. Before she died, MRS SESE SEKO handed me over
all the documents to collect the money from the security company She also
signed a transfer of ownership transferring the ownership of the money to me
I have cross-checked with the security company and have confirmed that the
money is intact and safe in the security company MRS.SESE SEKO, and I then
agreed that her son and I would share the Money after her death if I agree
to help her.

This is why I am contacting you I shall want you to assist me transfer this
money to an overseas Country where we can deposit this money for her son in
a safe bank account according to MRS.SESE SEKO’S desires I shall also want
you to assist me to relocate the little boy to your country even if it means
that I will join him with my family to settle in your country as of now, the
son is living with my family here in Johannesburg, South Africa I beg you to
treat this transaction with high confidentiality because the medical board
of South Africa will subject me to a hectic interrogation if they get hold
of this information, which may lead to the money being confiscated but I
must assure you that this business bears no risk whatsoever. It is very
important I let you be aware that I have perfected every arrangement to
bring about a very Successful transfer in the most legal way all I require
from you is your co-operation I suggest that when this money is successfully
transferred to your account, that we share the money as follows that is
After the transaction you will get your percentages, I will mine and we
will keep something for the son of Madam Agnes Sese Seko former wife of
President Mobutu.

On your reply to this proposal, I shall also send you all the documents
relating to this transaction as well as my identification I shall therefore
want you to contact me immediately by my private telephone number or email
address as stated above so that all details about this transaction will be
discussed.

BEST REGARDS

Yours faithfully,

DR CHARLES STEVEN
SOUTH - AFRICA


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