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: Williams Zuma <wzuma14@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 16:18:12 +0100 (BST)
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT


FROM: MR.WILLIAMS ZUMA
PHONE: 27 73 403 0425
E-MAIL: williamszuma12008@yahoo.com


ATTN: DIRECTOR/CEO

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

May I have the pleasure of introducing myself. I am MR.WILLIAMS ZUMA, a senior staff and chairman of Tender Board Committee on the award of contracts in Department of Works and Housing here in South Africa. I got your contact from an international directory on lawyers and advisers on international business in my request 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 Housing wish to transfer into a safe and secured account overseas, the sum of SIX MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$6.5M) 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/escrow 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 colleague on trust and sincerity to look for a reliable international outfit partner abroad into whose account the sum of US$6.5 Million will be transferred. We have agreed on the following sharing ratio if you accept our proposal.

1. Sixty percent (60%) for us and Forty percent (40%) for you, the Account owner.

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, I will require some information’s 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 receive your interest from you, and the funds will get into your account within Five (5) working days by Telegraphic Transfer (T.T). Note that this transaction is 100% risk free. Do acknowledge the receipt of this letter and forward your reply through the E-mail address above williamszuma12008@yahoo.com you can call me on my private phone number as indicated above.

I look forward to your urgent response.

Best Regards
MR.WILLIAMS ZUMA


---------------------------------
Messenger blocked? Want to chat? Here is the solution.

Anti-fraud resources: