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: alex mandla <almandla1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <alexmandla_007@yahoo.gr>
Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:31:04 +0200
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE



STANDARD BANK SOUTH AFRICA LTD.ROODEPOORT BRANCH,JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.Private Email: alexmandla_007@yahoo.gr
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Alex Mandla credit officer of Standard Bank Ltd South Africa.I have a concealed business suggestion for you.Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Mr Mohammad Rahim who was an Iraqi BusinessMan and also Deals On Arms With The South African Government made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of $14,500,000.00(Fourteen million Five Hundred thousand united state Dollars) only in my branch. Upon maturity several notices were sent to him,even during the war, again after the war several notifications were sent and still no response came from him. We later found out that the Mr Rahim and his family had been killed during the war in a bomb blast that hit their home in Iraq.After further investigation it was also discovered that Mr Rahim did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper work of his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he was at my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank. So, Fourteen million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me most is that according to the laws of my country at the expiration three years the funds will revert to the ownership of the South African Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr Mohammad Rahim so that you will be able to receive his funds.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE:
I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall come out successful. I have contacted an attorney that will prepare the necessary document that will back you up as the next of kin to Mr Mohammad Rahim ,all that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me with your full Names and Address so that the attorney can commence his job.After you have been made the next of kin, the attorney will also fill in for claims on your behalf and secure the necessaryapproval and letter of probate/Administration in your favor for the movement of the funds to an account that will be provided by you.There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are going adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary documents.Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue.Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall share in the ratio of 65% for me, 30% for you and 5% for any expenses incurred during the course of this operation.Should you be interested please send me your private phone and fax numbers for easy communication, you can write me via my private box and i will provide you with more details of this operation. Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.Kindly send your reply to: alexmandla_007@yahoo.grKind Regards,Mr. Alex Mandla.
_________________________________________________________________
Download the latest version of Windows Live Messenger NOW!
http://get.live.com/en-za/messenger/overview

Anti-fraud resources: