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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +27739169103 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- davia_gezi2003@yahoo.ca
- davia_gezi2005@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR DAVIA GEZI" <daviagezi47@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 04 Aug 2006 22:59:03 +0000
Subject: PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP.
FROM MR.DAVIA GEZI
JOHANNESBUR REPUBLIC
OF SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: +27-739-169-103
Dear :
TRANSFER NEGOTIATION
You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you do not know me
personally, the purpose of my introduction is that, I am MR.DAVIA GEZI first
son of Mr. Abrahim Gezi, who was recently murdered
in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through South African
Information Exchange before l decided to write you.
Before the death of my father, he had taken me to Johannesburg to
Deposit the sum of US$ 6.4 Million (Six Million Four Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars), in one of the private security
company, as if he foresaw the
looming danger in Zimbabwe. This money was deposited in a box as germ stones
to avoid much demurrage from Security Company. This amount was meant for the
purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and established of new
farm in Swaziland.
This land problem came when Zimbabwean President Mr. ROBERT MUGABE
Introduce a new Land Act reform which wholly affected the rich white farmers
and some few blacks’ farmers. And this resulted to the killing and mob action
by Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot
of
people were killed because of this land reformed Act for which my father was
one of the victim
It is
against
this background that, I and my family who are
Currently staying in South Africa decided to transfer my father’s money to
foreign account since the law of South Africa prohibits a refugee (asylum
seeker) to open any bank account or to be involved in any financial
transaction throughout the territorial zone South Africa. As the eldest son
of
my father, I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking a genuine foreign
account where this money could be transferred without the knowledge of my
government who are bent on taking everything we have got. The South African
government seems to be playing along with them. I am faced with the dilemma
of investing this amount of money in South Africa for fear of going through
the same experience in future since
both countries have similar political
history.
Moreover, the South African Foreign Exchange Policy does
not allow such investments for an asylum seeker.
As someone I wanted to entrust my life and future into your hands , I must
let
you know that this
transaction is risk free. If you accept to assist my family and me all I
want
you to do for me is to make arrangements and come to Johannesburg-South
Africa, so that you can open a non-resident account, which will aid us in
transferring the money into any of your accounts , which you will nominate
overseas. This money I intended to use for investment, I have two options for
you; firstly you can choose to have certain percentage of the money for
nominating your account for this transaction. Or you can go into partnership
with me for proper profitable investment of the money
in your country.
Whichever the options you want, feel free to notify me I have also mapped
5%of
this money for all kinds of expenses incurred in the process of this
transaction. If you do not prefer partnership I am willing to give you 25% of
the money while the remaining 70% will be for my investment in your country.
Contact me with the above e-mail, and Telephone number while I implore you to
maintain the absolute secrecy required in this transaction
Yours Faithfully,
MR.DAVIA GEZI.
(For the Family)
Davia_gezi2003@yahoo.ca
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