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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: "charlestaylor2010@libero.it" <charlestaylor2010@libero.it>
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2010 19:25:28 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Confidential Business Proposal!!

Sir,

May I use this opportunity to introduce myself to you as CHARLES TAYLOR (JR)?
I am the son of the former President of Liberia (a country in West Africa) MR
CHARLES TAYLOR, who is currently being held against his will by the United
Nations for alleged offenses of war crimes.
He is currently facing court trial in the Hague in Netherlands. My Father is
a good man who tried to do much for our people. I am contacting you with the
believe that we will develop a cordial business relationship which will be
beneficial to both parties. My father gave me your name and address when i
visited him on the 14th Feb 2010.

I am currently in possession of (Sixty Million United States Dollars) which
he directed me to use for investment purposes specifically in your country
Canada. The money came about as a result of my father`s inability to proceed
with the purchase of military hardware, which he contracted with South Africa
Arms Company.
Since the start of hostilities that lead to his negotiated exit from power as
the President of Liberia, the source of funds in running the country and
prosecuting the war staged by the rebels has been from diamonds, which is under
the government control of which my father was the head. I was the secretary of
state in mining under the leadership of my father.
The diamonds were always exported to South Africa for sales and part proceeds
usually used in buying military hardware’s from South Africa Arms Company.
Upon the exit of my father as the president and his subsequent arrest while he
is in exile, and his trial in the Hague,he informed me of the sum of Sixty
Million United States Dollars cash which he deposited with a security firm in
South Africa. He made this known to me when i visited him and he gave me
details of how to proceed with it.He specifically instructed me to contact you
as his heart rest where you are. I will always report back to him on the
progress.

I am currently in South Africa and I have made contact with the security
company where he deposited the fund. I have also inspected the funds and
confirm that it is still with them.
I will give you details on how we will claim these funds upon receipt of your
response. I have the whole documents for the deposit. I therefore seek your
assistance in transferring this fund out of South Africa, all necessary
arrangement have been prepared by me and I assure you that there is no risk
attached to this transaction and we will work out modalities for the success of
this transaction.

I promise to give you 40% of the total funds for your assistance and my family
for investment in your country will use the remaining 60%. I hope that this
proposal will interest you and I await your immediate response. Please I
implore you to hold this transaction in utmost secrecy.Please we have to be
very careful with the information's associated with this transaction as many
people have tried to impersonate me and members of my family.

I look forward to receiving your kind response at my private email: charles.
taylor201098@yahoo.com.hk

Best regards,

Charles Taylor Jr

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