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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: stella williams <stellawilliams47@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <helpstellawilliams@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:19:22 +0200
Subject: A PLEA FOR INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE


FROM: MRS STELLA WILLIAMS
Refugee Camp SunCity,JohannesburgSouth Africa.


Dear Sir/Madam,

I am MRS. STELLA WILLIAMS the wife of late MR. PEDRO WILLIAMS, from ZIMBABWE,I got your contact address ,when l was searching for business opportunities in your country.

During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to Claim all the white owners farms in my Country, he ordered all the farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and their followers My husband was one of the biggest farmers in the Country and although a black indigene, He did not support the presidents political ideology.

Therefore the Presidents supporters invaded my husbands farm burnt down everything , killed him and confiscated all his investments. After the death of my husband, my son and I decided to move out of Zimbabwe for the safety of our lives. On our departure from Zimbabwe, We took along with us some of the document's that my husband gave to me before he died, which he told me that he deposited the amounted of USD$20,000,000.00( Twenty Million United States Dollars) in the Republic of South Africa before he died, as a personal valuables in Private Security Company and we sought for Political asylum

My son has suggested and I agree that we have to further move out of African Continent to overseas for actual safety and to do a reliable business investments. Therefore we have decided that I should contact any reliable overseas person , firm, Company who could assist us to transfer this money out of South Africa through a current investment account because as refugees we are not allowed to operate any account .If my proposal is considered ,assisting us to transfer this money to your country, we confidentially agree to offer you 30% of the total found, 5% will be for any expenses that may be incurred during the transaction , 65% will be for me and my family to invest in your country with your assistance.
NOTE: PLEASE FOR THE REASON OF OUR ASYLUM STATUS DO MAINTAIN ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY WHILE WE ALSO PROMISE TO DO THE SAME. I ASSURE YOU THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.

PLEASE READ ABOUT PROBLEMS IN ZIMBABWE FROM THE LINKS BELOW.www1.zimbabwesituation.comhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm


Best Regards,MRS STELLA WILLIAMS
_________________________________________________________________
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