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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.

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

Fraud email example:

From: "benjamin martins" <benjamin_martins00220@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 09 Dec 2006 14:08:40 +0200
Subject: STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

REPLY EMAIL ADDRESS:
Phone:27-73-931-4538.
 
Dear Sir/Madam,

You may be suprised to receive this letter from me since you don’t know me personally.   However, for the sake of introduction, I am Mr. BENJAMIN MARTINS, the son of Mr. JEFF, MARTINS, who was recently murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact from the INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE here in the Republic of south africa and decided to write you.
 
My late father was among the few black Zimbabwean rich farmers murdered in cold blood by the agents of the ruling government of Robert Mugabe, for his alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabwean opposition party, partly controlled by the white minority.  Before his death, my father took me to the United Kingdom to deposit the sum of TWELVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$12.5M) with a private Security Company, as if he knew the looming danger ahead in Zimbabwe.  The money was deposited in a box as gemstones to avoid much demurrage from the Security Company. This money was earmarked for the purchase of new machinery and chemicals for the establishment of new farms in Lesotho and Swaziland.

This land problem arose when President Robert Mugabe introduced a new Land Reforms Act, which wholly affected the rich white farmers and a few black ones who vehemently condemned the Modus Operandi adopted by the government.  This has resulted to rampant killings and mob action by the war veterans and some political thugs.  So far, more than forty-nine (49) people have been killed and countless numbers of farm workers displaced.
 
Heads of government from the west, especially Britain and United States of America have voiced their condemnation of Mugabe`s actions.  Subsequently, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADEC) has continuously supported Mugabe`s new Land Reforms Act.  It is against this background that I and my family (who are currently temporarily staying in the Republic of south africa) have decided to transfer my father`s money into a foreign account.

As the eldest son of my father, I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking out a genuine partner who would assist in the claim of the money back from the security company and then provide a foreign account where this money could be transferred (after retrieval/reclaiming from the security company) without the knowledge of my government, who are tactically freezing our family’s assets, and South African government seems to be getting along with them.  I am worried about investing  in the United Kingdom owing to their country’s stringent and harsh monetary and economic policies, particularly when it comes to do with foreigners.

As a businessman in whose hands I am to entrust my future and that of my family, I must let you know that this transaction is 100% risk-free and the nature of your business does not necessarily matter.  Therefore, if you accept to assist my family, we will be willing to compensate you for your assistance, and I would wish to invest in your country on commercial property based on your personal or company account.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, please do send to me your personal details:

1 Name and Address,
2 Telephone and fax numbers.

You should know that this business is highly confidential and shall be kept within you alone.  Upon receipt of your response, I will provide you with necessary details to enable you proceed and claim the consignment containing the funds from the security company.   Once the money is claimed from the security company, we shall fly back together to your country for the disbursement of the money and to initiate the various investment projects.
 
PLEASE, FOR THE SAKE OF CONFIDENTIALITY, REPLY VIA THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS: benjamin_martins00290@hotmail.com


Best regards,
BENJAMIN,MARTINS.


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