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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: Phuti Amos <amosphuti@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2007 03:16:33 -0800
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?Action_Required_Now!=FD?=



Hello Dear,
In appreciation of your esteemed contact which I got through my online search and the choice of your country for investment, let me introduce myself. I am Amos Phuti the eldest son of Mr. Michael E Phuti from Zimbabwe (Southern part of Africa) recently assassinated in Zimbabwe due to the current land dispute in Zimbabwe. He was among the few black Zimbabwean rich farmers who were assassinated by agents of the ruling government of President Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabwean opposition party, which is controlled by the whites. My father who has over the years been buying foreign money (US$ Dollar) showed me few weeks before this awful tragedy that he has already bought the sum of US$ 24.6 Million (twenty four million six hundred thousand United States Dollars) He told me that this money is mapped out for the purpose of acquiring new tractors, chemicals and machinery for the farms and for establishment of new farms in Lesotho and Swaziland (neighboring Countries). Immediately after his assassination we (My family and I) made arrangement and moved this money into South Africa through diplomatic means. Right now we are in South Africa with the money deposited in a security company, as we cannot deal in any banking transactions due to the fact that we are asylum seekers.
Now as the eldest son of my father I am faced with searching and finding someone who is responsible, whom I am going to entrust both me and my family’s future, into the hands.I should let you know that this business is 100% risk free. We need a trustworthy person who can help us transfer this money out of South Africa, pending when we come over to your country to invest this money as we will not like to let this money continue to lie idle without yielding any interests. We have resolved to offer you 20% of this total money if you are willing to help us. Be assured that all the expenses during these transactions are subject to refund. Please contact me through this number +27-74 33 22 524 or email: amosphuti@gmail.com accept my complements. I earnestly await your reply. Best Regards Amos Phuti. N: B. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/africa/08/12/violence.zimbabwe/http://www.guardian.co.uk/zimbabwe/article/0,2763,562148,00.html
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