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: =?utf-8?q?randy=20Donald?= <randydonald35@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: randydonald@live.com
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 08:38:50 +0530 (IST)
Subject: INVESTMENT INITIATIVES


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: randydonald35@yahoo.in



- Dear Friend, I am writing this letter to you in confidence believing that you would appreciate the contents and essence of my proposal. Although I realize the implications having to deal sometimes with a supposedly total stranger, but the journey of a million miles begins with just a bold step. I am an immigrant from South Africa and presently resident here in the UK and work with a branch of the Citigroup at the Depositary Receipt Services (DRS) department, which handles Assets of major government, multinational corporations and portfolios of wealthy individuals of mostly immigrant status from the Middle East and Asia countries. About two months ago, an Arab from one of the Middle Eastern country and a serving minister had made physical deposit of the sum of $40million through my desk for private placement here at the Citigroup. He had insisted along the line that I invest the sums into stocks, bonds and shares of blue chip companies and other real estate concerns. He had agreed with me for a first five year term investment initiatives after which, I was to declare proceeds of his total Assets.I had just commenced preliminary proceedings in the proposed investment initiatives for management of the Asset, when I got news of the demise of the Arab through a bomb blast that has plagued the Middle Eastern countries. I was very distraught and quite confused at the same time on what to do, because firstly the Arab did not provide me with details of any family member or business associate concerned with this initiative that I can contact, neither had we envisaged this sudden incident, since the relationship between us had been intended to be very confidential and secretive due to nature of his job. Now with this development, I can no longer proceed with the original business initiatives and more so as continued retention of the funds here at the Citigroup after death of the Arab and with no family member or business associate to contact, which means the Asset will eventually be turned over to the Treasury of the bank. As a result, I am seeking for a reliable and trust worthy individual and personality with viable business initiatives and structures that will represent business associate of the late Arab whom I can transfer the funds to his bank account out of the Citigroup/UK.If you will be able to cooperate with me on this matter to provide a reliable bank account to transfer the funds, between you and me we will share 50% each. I shall ensure to facilitate and coordinate all official, banking and legal procedures to finalize the smooth and unhindered transfer of the funds out of the Citigroup/UK and with full assurance of no ramifications now or in the nearest future and as well as guarantee of your identity where required. And on your part, you must ensure to treat this proposal with utmost secrecy and confidentiality and guarantee as well my identity where required. As soon as I confirm your acceptance and willingness to proceed, and banking coordinate to transfer the funds, within maximum of ten banking days, we should successfully execute the outward transfer. And as soon as the transfer is executed, I shall make arrangements to join you up. But meanwhile, if you will like to meet with me personally so that we can know and trust each other better before proceeding, you are very free and welcome to visit me here in the UK. Please get back with me as soon as possible, kindly response true my private email box: randydonald@live.com Yours sincerely, Randy Donald


Anti-fraud resources: