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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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:12:46 -0700
Subject: Mr. Sipho Mohau


DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
JOHANNEBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Email: mohau2008@hotmail.com

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$25,000,000.00(Twenty Five Million Dollars)
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 and two other colleagues are
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 and my colleagues 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
our positions as civil servants in my country, we cannot acquire this
money in our names. Because as high placed civil servants, we are 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 us to keep the money here due to
unstable political environment. I have been mandated as a matter of
trust by my colleagues, to look for an overseas silent partner who could
work with us 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) 15% to you as commission for your co-operation and
assistance in facilitating the transfer, while the remaining 85% belongs
to me and two colleagues. You will be free to take out your commission
immediately after the money hits your account in your country.

Since our objective is to invest the money in a foreign country, it would
be appreciated if you could also help us 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 us with
investing the money, we can end our cooperation after you make available
to me our 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
affected within a period not longer than two weeks 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 us or yourself. Please, give me your
response immediately by returning this mail through my alternative email
address. mohau2008@hotmail.com

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Sipho Mohau.
Finance & Economic Affairs Dept. (South Africa)

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