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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: paulson1benson@263.net
Date: Sat, 02 Sep 2006 01:22:30 +0200
Subject: CALL PAULSON BENSON URGENT ASSISTANCE

PAULSON BENSON
TEL:+27-73-7830-560
FAX:+27-11-507-6392
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

ATTN:MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO

URGENT ANDCONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL

I am Mr.PAULSON BENSON the elder son oflate Mr.JAMES BENSON of Zimbabwe. I got your contact address from theSouth African Chambers of
Commerce and Industry please don't worry.During the current crises against the farmers of Zimbabwe by thesupporters of our President
Robert Mugabe to claim all the white ownedfarms in my country, he ordered all the white farmers to surrender theirfarms to his party
members and their followers.

My father was one of thebiggest farmers in the country and although a black indegene, he did notsupport the President?s political ideology.
Therefore, the president?ssupporters invaded my father?s farm burnt down everything, killed himand confiscated all his investments. After
the death of my father, mymother and I together with my younger brother decided to move out ofZimbabwe for the safety of our lives.

On our departure from Zimbabwe,wetook along with us some money which my father kept in the safe in mymother?s custody which amounted to
the sum of US$15,000,000.00 (FIFTEENMILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) to the Republic of South Africa where wehave deposited it as personal
valuables in a private security companyand sought for political asylum. My mother has suggested and I agreethat we have to further move
out of the African continent to overseasfor actual safety and to do reliable business investments.

Therefore wehave decided that I should contact any reliable overseasperson/firm/company who could assist us to transfer this money out
ofSouth Africa through a current investment account because as refugees weare not allowed to operate any account exceeding US$2,000(Two
ThousandUS Dollars). So we need your help to come down to South Africa to open abank account through which we can transfer this money to

your country.Ifmy proposal is considered, for assisting us to Transfer this money toyour country, we unanimously agree to offer you 20%
of the total fund,5%will be for any expenses that may be incuured during the transaction,75% will be for me and my family to invest in
your country under yourassistance.

For detailed information, you can contact me on my directline TEL : +27-73-7830-560 or please reply via
this EMAIL=paulsonbenson1@yahoo.com.hk or send message to this fax:+27-11-507-6392NOTE:

PLEASE,FOR REASON OF OUR ASYLUM STATUS DO MAINTAIN ABSOLUTECONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY WHILE WE ALSO PROMISE TO DO SAME.
I ASSUREYOU THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100%RISKFREE. TIME IS OF ESSENCE.YOURURGENT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

BEST REGARDS

PAULSON BENSON


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