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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

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

Fraud email example:

From: taffa.william3 <taffa.william3@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:11:45 +0530
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED


*HELLO, FRIEND*
*I know you will be surprise to read from me, but please consider this
letter as request from a family in dire need for your assistance. Firstly I
must introduce myself.*
*I am Mr WILLIAM TAFFA from ZIMBABWE, I am the first and only son of MR.
MANDELA TAFFA.*
*I am presently residing in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso.*
*I got your contact from the internet search and On behalf of my mother who
is a widow MRS. ELIZABETH TAFFA,I decided to solicit for your assistance to
transfer the sum of US$14M (FOURTEEN Million United States Dollars) in your
personal or company's account.*
*Before my fathers death he was among the few black Zimbabwean rich farmers
and he was poisoned by the agent of the ruling government of president
Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for the
Zimbabweopposition party controlled by the white minority. Before his
death he had
taken me to Ouagadougou Burkina Faso to deposit this money to a Security and
Finance Company. This money was deposited in a box as gemstone to avoid much
demurrage from the Security Company. This money was earmarked for purchase
of new machinery and chemicals fo the farms and to establish new farms in
Lesotho and Swaziland.*
*In his will he specially drew my attention to this sum of US$14M (fourteen
Million United States Dollars) that he deposited in a safe box in a private
Security and Finance Company in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso. IN FACT MY FATHER
SAID IN HIS WILL AND QUOTE: "My beloved son, I wish to draw your attention
to this money which I deposited in your name in a box with a Security and
Finance Company in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso.*
*In case of my absence on earth caused by death. You should solicit for a
reliable foreign partner to assist you to transfer this money out
of Ouagadougou Burkina Faso for investment purpose." From the above, you
will understand that the live and future of my family depends on this money
as much. I will be grateful if you can assist us.*
*We are now living in Burkina Faso as Asylum seekers and financial laws
of Ouadagoudou Burkina Faso does not allow Asylum seekers certain right to
such huge amount of money. In view of this, I cannot invest this money in
Burkina Faso,hence I am asking you to assist me to transfer this money out
of Burkina Faso for investment purpose. For your efforts, I am prepared to
offer you 20% of the total fund. While 5% will be set aside for local and
international expenses and 75% will be kept by my family and me.Finally
modalities on how the transfer will be done and conveyed to you once we
establish trust and confidence between ourselves. Looking forward to your
reply and please treat with utmost privacy.*
*Thanks, Best regards *
*(Mr WILLIAM TAFFA FOR THE FAMILY)*

* *

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