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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: "info" <williamcharleszim@yahoo.es>
Date: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 02:07:32 -0700
Subject: From:: William

From:   William Charles
Tel:      +27 781736301
Urgent and confidential.
 
Good day, 
With due respect, trust and humility, I write to you this proposal, which I believe would be of great interest to you. I Am looking for a reliable and capable foreign partner that will assist my family and I to transfer fund to his personal or company account and for investment purposes I am William Charles the son of Late Mr. Anderson Charles, who was Commercial Farmer and very wealthy cocoa merchant in Bindura and Harare, the economic city of Zimbabwe.
 
My father was among the people that were murdered in cold blood by the President Robert Mugabe Administration during the land dispute that just happened in Zimbabwe wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few black’s farmers and this resulted to the killing and mob action by Zimbabwean war veterans and some lunatics in the society. In fact, a lot of people were killed because of this land reformed Act.
 
After the death of my father, we decided to move out of ZIMBABWE because our lives were in danger. But before the death of my father he deposited the sum of US$20 Million Dollars (TWENTY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) in of Security Company here in South African
 
This money was meant for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for the farms and establishment of new farms in Swaziland. He moved to South Africa and deposited this money in a security company in a box as valuables belonging, for the safety of ours.
 
We are presently in South Africa as Refugee (Asylum Seekers) and as such the law of South Africa does not permit us to operate or open any bank account here in South Africa or be involved in any financial transaction with the bank. That is why we contacted you to assist us in this transaction.
 
We are ready to give you 25% of the total amount for the inconveniences this may cost you and for accepting to assist us while 5% will be map out for any expenses that may occur through the transaction, contact me on the above telephone. Indicating your interest as soon as possible, on receiving of your acceptance, I shall be glad to give you more clarification on the modalities needed for the smooth successful completion of this transaction.
 I anticipate your quick response 
William CHARLES
(For and on Behalf of the Family)

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