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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: Mrs Alida Walter <alidawalter1@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 10:18:53 +0200
Subject: Urgent Help


You may be surprised to receive this letter from me since you don't
know me personally; my name is Mrs. Alida Walter the wife of Mr. Dennis
Walter who was murdered in the land dispute in Zimbabwe, I got your contact
through network, hence, I decided to write to you.

Before the death of my husband Mr. Dennis Walter he took my son Karim
Walter to Johannesburg to deposit the sum of US$18.500.000.00
(US$18.5Million United States Dollars) in one of the Security Company as if
he foresaw the danger in Zimbabwe, This money was deposited in a box as
Precious stones.

This amount was meant to purchase of new machines and chemicals for the
farms and establishment of a new farms in Maputo Swaziland, this land
problem came when Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe introduce a new land act
reform which wholly affected the rich white farmers and some few blacks
farmers, this resulted 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 for
which my husband was one of the victim, it is against this background that,
I and my son who are current staying in South Africa decided to transfer my
husband’s money to a foreign country since the law of South Africa
prohibits refugees to open any bank account or to be involved in any
financial/transaction throughout the territory zone of south Africa.

I am saddled with the responsibility of seeking a genuine foreign account
where this money could be transferred into without knowledge of my
government who bent to taking everything. All I seek for an honest person,
whom I can entrust my future and my family, I must also let you know that
this transaction is 100% risk free.

This money I intend to use for investment and growth in your country, I
have certain percentage of the money for nominated your account for this
transaction or you can go into partnership with me for the proper
profitable investment of the money in your country.

Finally, if you are real good and willing to assist me please treat this
matter as urgent as possible whichever option you want feel free to notify
me, if you do not prefer a partnership my family are willing to give you
30% of this money.
Best regards,
Mrs. Alida Walter & Karim Walter My (Son)
No, 52 George Street JHB South Africa
Phone: +27 730 060 446 Email: alidawalter2@gmail.com

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