joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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: "Mr.jacob williams" <jacob_williams405@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:18:34 +0200
Subject: URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL

DRECTOR AUDIT / ACCOUNTS UNITS
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
RESERVE BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA.
142 WEST, STREET SANDTON 2196
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.


ATTN: CEO/PRESIDENT,

Sir/ Madam,


With due honor and respect, I introduce myself to you for a better
relationship. I am Mr. Jacob Williams, Assistant head of Audit/Accounts
unit, Foreign Remittance Department of South African Reserve Bank. Your
contact is courtesy of Business online network via Internet as I decided to
contact you for this beneficial transaction that is 100% risk free.

During auditing, verifications/investigations in our Bank at the end of last
fiscal (financial) year, I discovered the sum of (US$15.5) FIFTEEN MILLION,
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) in a dormant account belonging
to Mr. Arnold Smith, who worked for the BP Oil Exploration Company in
Southern Africa, He died along with his family (next of kin) in the November
5, 1997 plane crash in Abidjan. Our investigations reveal no survival, no
NEXT OF KIN/RELATIONS for claims as we have long been expecting someone to
forward applications for claims as it applies to our banking regulations.

Information / verifications from reliable sources confirmed that his
supposed “NEXT OF KINS” died with him in the crash. Hence this for your
perusals. However, I keep this information (SECRET) confidential within my
jurisdiction to enable us submit claims and transfer this fund through
trustworthy person whom we shall present to our bank as the BONAFIDE “NEXT
OF KIN” to the deceased. We intent to credit this fund into any of your
nominated (designated) offshore bank account for investments. Meanwhile, all
domestic arrangements for claims have been put in place awaiting your
acceptance to participate.

I will give you directives and all needed information as soon as I receive
your positive response. Kindly understand that we could not carry out this
on our own at based on the simple facts that we are civil servants and
precluded from operating foreign account and too, it will raise eyebrows on
our side in terms of transfer being staff of the bank.

My colleague and I have resolved to offer you 30% of the total sum as
commission. I am assuring you of a smooth and successful transaction
provided you display maturity and observe confidentiality. And it will
interest you to know that the Reserve Bank of South Africa will authorize
credit of this fund into your account as contract payment to alleviate you
from all queries regarding the source (originality) of fund and will provide
you (beneficiary) with contractual (data) details to certify your bank of
government if the need arises.


I am looking forwards towards your urgent response. Do reply through my
personal and confidential Email address:( jacob_williams@xpemail.com)

Best regards,

Mr.Jacob Williams

_________________________________________________________________
Customise your home page with RSS feeds - visit MSN SA today!
http://za.msn.com/


Anti-fraud resources: