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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: mohamed mafus <mohamedmafus.mf@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 19:33:22 +0100
Subject: A CRY FOR HELP.

Hello,

My name is Mohamed Mafus,i am 21years,from the DAFUR REGION in Sudan, North
Africa. Militants in Sudan wiped out all my families.
Over 70,000 people, including Men, Women and Children has been killed in the
passed year.The United Nations has decleared the DAFUR CRISIS in Sudan one
of the worst in the world which has rendered over a Million of people
homeless. I am now in Ghana as a refugee at the Bujubura Refugee Camp here
in Accra,Ghana,West Africa.We are been taken care of by the United Nation
High commission for Refugee(UNHCR) and the Ghana Government.

My father was a Gold and Diamond Merchant before his death.But before the
death of my father,he deposited the sum of US$20Million as Family Treasures
at a Security Company here in Ghana and named me the Next-of-Kin being the
eldest son.

I am contacting you because i need a Godfearing,reliable and trustworthy
person who can help receive and claim this consignment on my behalf as the
beneficiary in area of investment.


For your assistance and help,i am ready to offer you 25% for your help and
assistance. I have also set aside 5% for any expenses that might come up
during the cause of this transaction and 70% for me.

But you have to keep this transcation secret because i dont want anybody to
know that my late father deposited such fund in my name.This is for the
safety of my life and security of the fund.

After you have help me claim and receive the consignment in your place you
will make plan for me to come over and start a new life there.


Attach copy of my passport for adentification.


Waiting urgently for your response.
God bless,
Mohamed Mafus

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