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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: "Gina Nkomo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsgina.nkomo@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:27:12 +0100
Subject: I HOPE I CAN TRUST YOU.

FROM:Mrs.GINA NKOMO
LOME TOGO.
CONFIDENTIL BUSINESS.

Dear Friend,

You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you dont know me personally. I am MRS GINA NKOMO the wife of late Dr.Williams NKOMO, who was murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe. I got your contact through the Togolaise chambers of commerce in my search for a reliable and reputable person to handle a very confidential transaction that involves a transfer of a fund to a foreign account and I decided to write you.

My late husband was among the few black Zimbabwean rich farmers murdered in cold blood by the agents of the ruling government of President Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for the Zimbabwean opposition party controlled by the entire minority. Before his death he had taken me and my only son who is 18 years old to Lome Togo as one of the most peaceful country in west Africa and also a tourist country, to deposit the sum of US$15 MILLION (Fifteen million united states dollars) with a security and finance company as if he foresaw the looming danger in zimbabwe.

The money was packed in a trunk box as valuables/family treasure for security reasons and deposited with a security company for safe keeping. This money was embarked from the purchase of new machinery and chemical for farms and the establishment of new farms in Lesotho, Swaziland. This land problem arose when President Robert Mugabe introduced a new land act that wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few blacks vehemently condemned the Modus Operandi adopted by the government.

This resulted to rampant killing and mod action by the war veterans and some political thugs.Precisely, more than thirty one (31)people have so far been killed. Heads of government from west, especially Britain and United States of America have voiced their condemnation of Mugabes plan. Suddenly, Togo Development Community(TDC) has continued to support the Mugabes new land act,it is against this background that I and my family who are previously residing in Lome Togo,west Africa have decided to transfer my husband money into a foreign account. I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking for a genuine foreign account where this money could be transferred without the knowledge of my government who are tactically freezing with my husband wealth and Togo government seems to be playing along with them.

I am faced with the dilemma of investing this money in Togo for fear of encountering the same experience in future since both countries have almost the same political history. More so, the Togolaise foreign exchange policy does not allow Assylum Seekers immediate investment chances hence I am forced to look for an immediate alternative. As a woman, I am entrusting my future and that of my family into your hands hoping that you will not betray the trust, I must let you know that this transaction is 100% risk free and the nature of your business does not necessarily matter.

Presently i am residing in Nigeria for of my life and and that of my only son but the fund is still in Togo and i am always in contact with security company so you see why your assitance is needed urgently.

For your assistance, we are offering you 20% of the total sum, 75% for my family and I while 5% will be mapped out for any expenses we may incure during the course of this transaction. We wish to invest our part of the money on commercial property based on your advice. Finally, all we need from you is assurance that you will not sit on this money when it finally gets into your personal or company account in your country.

Please provide me with the following details:
1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number and Fax Number
3. Your Contact Address.

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. GINA NKOMO.

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