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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: "Mr. Tsepo Moloi" <tsepo-moloi@mighty.co.za> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 21:00:08 +0200
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Tel: +27736566010
Fax: +27866029526
Email: tsepo-moloi@mighty.co.za

Dear Sir/Madam,

URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

After my official enquiry from the foreign trade office of the chambers of
commerce & industry here in Johannesburg South Africa, I decided to
contact you but I did not disclose the intention to anyone else because of
the delicate nature of the project. I found your profile very interesting
and decided to reach you directly to solicit for your assistance and
guidelines in making a business investment and transfer of
US$45,000,000.00(Forty-five million) to your country within the next few
days.

Please I must plead for your confidence in this transaction. I am a high
placed official working with Department of (Finance & Economic Affairs) in
Johannesburg. I am currently in need of a silent foreign partner whose
identity we can use to transfer this sum of money. But at this moment, I
am constrained to issue more details about this profitable business
investment until I get your response by email, please if you can take out
a moment of your very busy schedule today to respond back to my private
email below for more details and include your private telephone number in
your response which I will highly appreciate.

This fund accrued legitimately to us as commission from foreign contracts,
through our private connections.

The fund is presently waiting to be remitted from the bank here in South
Africa to any overseas beneficiary confirmed by us as associate/receiver.
By virtue of my position as a civil servant in my country, I cannot
acquire this money in my name. Because as a high placed civil servant, I
am not allowed by the civil service code of conduct to own or operate bank
accounts outside of our shores. On the other hand, it is not safe for me
to keep the money here due to unstable political environment. I have been
mandated to look for an overseas silent partner who could work with me to
facilitate transfer of this fund for our mutual benefit, hence the reason
for this email.

My proposal is that after you receive the funds, it would be shared as
follows: (1) 25% to you as commission for your co-operation and assistance
in facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 70% belongs to me and 5%
will be set aside to repay any expenses made in the process of
transferring the funds to your country.

You will be free to take out your commission immediately after the money
hits your account in your country. Since my objective is to invest the
money in a foreign country, it would be appreciated if you could also help
me with advices and direction on investing into profitable ventures in
your country.

However, this is optional, and if it is not convenient for you to further
assist me with investing the money, we can end our cooperation after you
make available to me my part of the money. The transaction, although
discreet, is legitimate and the money will be transferred successfully
with all necessary back-up official documents showing the legitimate
source/origin of fund. The transfer will be effected as soon as we reach
an agreement and you furnish me with a suitable response indicating your
interest for processing the transfer. I plead with you on one issue,
whether you are interested or not, kindly do not expose this information
to any one else. I confirm that the transaction is legitimate and without
any risks either to me or yourself. Please, give me your response
immediately by returning this mail through my alternative email address.
tsepo-moloi@mighty.co.za

Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Tsepo Moloi.
Finance & Economic Affairs Dept. (South Africa)


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