419 scam: "Claudia Mafikeng" <info@mail.net> Dear Friend

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mafikengneedhelp_claudia@yahoo.ie

Fraud email example:

From: "Claudia Mafikeng" <info@mail.net>
Reply-To: mafikengneedhelp_claudia@yahoo.ie
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:02:53 +0300
Subject: Dear Friend

Dear Friend,

My name is Claudia Mafikeng the eldest daughter of Mr.John Mafikeng of
Zimbabwe.It might be a surprise to you where I got your contact address but I
got your contact address from the Johannesburg Chambers of Trade and
Commerce.During the current crises against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the
supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim the farms in our
country, he ordered all the farmers 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's supporters invaded my fathers farm burnt down
everything,killed him and confiscated most of 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 mothers house,which amounted to
the sum of US$16.7Million (sixteen Million,Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars) to
the Republic of South Africa,where we now seek political asylum,after which
the money was transferred to a financial house overseas by an uncle of
ours.He later died and since his death,all efforts to retrieve this funds
have proved abortive because we do not have an account here since we seek
asylum.My Mother and I have decided to contact any reliable overseas firm or
individual who could assist us in claiming this money out from the financial
house because we as asylum seekers here in South Africa we are not allowed
certain financial rights like operating a bank account.We need you to open a
non-resident account with the bank where the money is kept through which this
fund will be channeled out to your nominated overseas account.

If my preposition is considered, for assisting us to transfer this money to
your country, we will offer you USD 3million dollars of the total fund, while
me and my family will like to invest in your country under your
guidance and assistance.This transaction is 100% risk free.Your urgent
response back to me at (mafikengneedhelp_claudia@yahoo.ie ) will be highly
appreciated.Anxiously waiting for your reply. Thank you.

iafrica.com/news/specialreport/zimbabwe/226559.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/weblog/special/0,10627,536901,00.html

Best regards,
Claudia Mafikeng.
For the family.

-----------------
Registra il tuo nome di dominio su: http://www.oneonline.it/domini
One On Line ti offre domino + spazio web illimitato + 5 email + 5000 uscite banner + PHP + Link a soli Euro 15 iva compresa

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam