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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: MR.PAUL KHUMALO <mr.paulkhumalo71@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mr.paulkhumalo@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:36:27 +0000
Subject: FAMILY REQUEST FOR URGENT HELP AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE




MR.PAUL KHUMALO
Johannesburg. South Africa,
Tel: +27- 73 446 2916
Fax:+27-86 609 6844
Email: mr.paulkhumalo@gmail.com

FAMILY REQUEST FOR URGENT HELP AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
ATTN:

DIRECTOR/CEO

Greetings!

My name is Mr.Paul Khumalo{Jr.}, the elder son of Mr. Paul Khumalo of Zimbabwe. It might be a surprise to you where I got your contact address; I got your contact address from the South African chambers of commerce. During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms and the few black farmers who are against his party in our country, he ordered all the white and black farmers who are against his system of leadership to surrender their farms to his party members and their followers.

My father was one of the best farmers in the country and knowing that he did not support the president's political ideology, the president supporters invaded my father's farm burnt down everything, killed him and confiscated all his investments. After the death of my father, my mother and I with my younger brother decided to move out of Zimbabwe for the safety of our lives.

We took along with us the money my father kept in the safe in my mother's house, which amounted to the sum of US$45 Million United States Dollars to the Republic of South Africa. The funds are presently being kept away in the secret vaults of a private security firm based here in Johannesburg South Africa.

My mother and I have decided to contact any reliable overseas firm/person who could assist us to transfer this money out of The Republic of South Africa, because we as asylum seeker here in South Africa cannot open an account of any sort, this is why we need you to travel down to south Africa to open a non-resident bank account in your name where the funds will be deposited before on-ward transfer to your nominated overseas account.

If my proposition is considered, for assisting us to transfer this money to your country, we will offer you 20% of the total fund, 80% will be for me and my family to invest in your country under your supervision. All expenses incurred will be deducted from the 80%. For detailed information, you can contact me.

Best Regards,

MR.PAUL KHUMALO (Jr)

http://www.africancrisis.org/ photos2.asp

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