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: "MR NORBERT FREEBORN" <norbert_freeborn@excite.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19.52.55 +0200
Subject: BUSINESS PROPOSAL


My Dear friend=2C

I hereby humbly write to solicit for your co-operation and assistance
in a mutual beneficial Business transaction that
required absolute confidentiality=2E

This may come to you as a surprise as we have never met Before=2C I got
your contact from international Journal which I saw in the office of an
International consultant=2E

I am NORBERT FREEBORN the son of MR CASTRO FREEBORN who was a farmer in
Zimbabwe=2E

During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the
supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned
farms in Zimbabwe country=2C he ordered all the white farmers to
surrender their farms to his party members and their followers=2E

My father was one of the best farmers in the country and knowing that
he did not support the president=92s political ideology=2C the president
supporters invaded my father's farm burnt down everything=2C killed him
and confiscated all his investments=2E

Now I am presently in EUROPE due to the heat from the Presidents
supporters was too much for me to with stand =2ESo i had to leave
Zimbabwe with the help of my late fathers friend =2EAt this point in
time =2Cthere is available cash of =28US46=2E9 Million Dollars=29 Fourty Six Million Nine
Hundred Thousand Dollars which has been tactfully secured in a
reputable Financial Institution in Europe =2E This money was then deposited when my
father was Alive=2E

I need your assistant to bring this money out from the Financial
Institution here and invest this money in your Country=2E I
don't want to invest this money in this
sub region due to poor economic policy=2C and also for security reasons=2E

It is my desire to invest this money in Agriculture Industry or any
other business you may suggest=2E

Please I need your help=2C is true we have not met before but I believe I
can trust a person with your kind of reputation with whom I can build a
solid business foundation=2E

I will compensate you with 25% of the total sum=3A while the remaining
will be for investment according to your valuable advise=2E

If you are interested and ready to assist=2C contact me via my private
E-mail =28norbert=5Ffreeborn=40excite=2Ecom=29 You can also give me your direct phone and fax
numbers so I could always contact you for more effective communication=2E

Thanks and God bless

NORBERT FREEBORN=2E

Anti-fraud resources: