joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

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:

Fraud email example:

From: desmond robinson <desmond_robinson_21@msn.com>
Reply-To: <robinsondesmond292@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2011 04:13:21 +0000
Subject: Dear Attention,




Attention,

I know you will be surprised to read a letter from me but please consider this as a request from a family in dares need of assistance. I am Eighteen years old (18yrs) Mr. Desmond Robinson, the son of Mr. Ismail L. Robinson from Zimbabwe. I am writing to you from Government Reserved Area South Africa. I got your contact email address from the trade centre here in Pretoria and I decided to propose to you in strict confidence.
The President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe demanded that the wealthy mechanize farmers in the country should either financially support his brutal and dictatorial regime, or surrender their properties and flee the country. The farmers who refuted this order had their properties confiscated, chased away or killed. My father happened to be one of the victims; his properties were invaded, the President's loyalists looted his heavy-duty machineries and burnt down his structures. In the process he was trying to defend his properties my father was killed together with seven other employees and security officers that worked for us.
After my father was killed, our lives were in danger and through the assistance of the United Nation workers that were assisting families in crisis; my mother and I were taken across to the neighboring country South Africa as refugees. Before fleeing from my country my mother came along with a deposit agreement of Gold Bars/Dust and US $9m (Nine Million United States dollars). My father deposited with a Security and Financial House in South Africa when he was alive, which his family was made as the next of kin/beneficiary. This fund was declared and deposited as family valuables with the security company here in South Africa. Being a refugee claimant here in South Africa, certain Immigration Law prohibits me from operating financial transactions and exchanges.
A financial adviser therefore advised me to seek and negotiate for a reliable foreigner who will assist me to transfer this fund to their bank account in their Country. I am therefore humbly asking for your assistance to help me to claim this fund and also transfer it to any of your account you may wish overseas by acting as the trustee/ Distance beneficiary of the fund. If this proposal is acceptable to you please do contact me and let me know if you are willing. I am offering you a 30% commission. Give me your consent so that we will go ahead with the transaction. Thanks while waiting for your urgent good reply.

Anti-fraud resources: