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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: terry thompson <terrythompson_012@yahoo.ca>
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:17:10 -0500 (EST)
Subject: HAPPY NEW YEAR


FROM TERRY THOMPSON

terrythompson_014@yahoo.com

PHONE+27783669010

Dear

STRICLY CONFIDENTIAL

May i have the pleasure of introducing myself. I am Mr.Terry Thompson, a senior staff and chairman Tender Board Committee on the award of contracts in department of Works and Housing here in South Africa. I got your contact E-mail address from an international directory on lawyers and advisers in my quest to find a trustworthy person on whom i can repose confidence for colossal international money transaction.

My aim of sending this "business proposal" to you is to solicit for your assistance and co-operation to transfer some huge amount of money into your account overseas. Therefore, this communication should be held in high confidence.

My colleague and i in the Department of Works and Land Affairs wish to transfer into a safe and secured account overseas, the sum of TWENTY-SEVEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS(US$27M) which is over-invoiced amount from contracts we awarded to foreign contractors who have been duly paid on completion of their various contracts. This money right now is in a coded account in the Reserve Bank of South Africa.

However, by virtue of our position as civil servants, we cannot acquire these funds in our names or in the names of companies here in South Africa. I was therefore asked by my colleagues on trust and sincerity to look for a reliable internatioal outfit partner abroad into whose account the sum of US$27 Million will be transferred. We have agreed on the following sharing ratio if you accept our proposal.We will offer you 20% of the money at the end of the transaction, 5% for expenses incurred while we have 75% for possible investment in your country at your supervision.
My choice of you for this transaction is basically hanged on your field and profession, hence this business proposal. If you are interested in this deal, we will require the follwing from you in order to effect the transfer of the money.

Please, be informed that we shall commence processing of claims of payment once we are in receipt of the information required from you, and the funds will get into your account within five(5)working days by Telegrephic Transfer(T.T). Note that this transaction is 100% risk free. Do acknowledge the receipt of this letter the above E-mail terrythompson_014@yahoo.com
Best Regards
TERRY THOMPSON





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