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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "ngobeni mark" <ngobenimark03@torba.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:09:17 +0200
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT/CONFIDENTIAL.


*From: Mr. NGOBENI MARK
Tel :+ 27- 735-192-826
EMAIL:NGOBENIMARK@HOTMAIL.COM <EMAIL%3ANGOBENIMARK@HOTMAIL.COM>
*

*Greetings!

I am Mr. NGOBENI MARK, Head Accounts Management Section of a well-known Bank
here in South Africa . One of our accounts with holding balance of
US$6,200,000 (Six Million, Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollar) has
been dormant and last operated in the past four (4) years. From
investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account is a Hong Kong
Foreigner by name Engr Wing Chiu Lee died on the 4th of January 2003 in an
automobile accident along Pretoria N1 High-Way.

Since then nobody has done anything as regards to the claiming of this money
as he has no family member that is aware of the existence of either the
account or the fund. Several attempt to trace any of his relative proof
abortive and also Information from the National Immigration office states
that late Engr Wing Chiu Lee was single on point of entry into South Africa
.

Our Financial Institution is presently and by law the custodian of the money
belonging to the deceased, whose account I am responsible for monitoring and
officiating. The present mandate I have to present a credible beneficiary
opens the way for us to take advantage of the situation and use the money to
positively affect the lives of many instead of allowing the funds to be
completely lost, since no one knows about the money and no one will come
forward to claim the money as we already know.

I have confidentially discussed this issue with some of the bank officials
and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thus
propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of this fund
from the deceased and fund released to you after due processes have been
followed. This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the
fund is Legitimate and does not originate from drug or money laundry. On
your interest, please send to me your contact telephone number, full names,
occupation and residential address.
*

*Sincerely,
NGOBENI MARK. *

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